PUBLICATIONS OF THE IPSWICH 

HISTORICAL SOCIBTT. 

I. 



THE Oration 



eY 



REV. WASHINGTON CHOATE, 



AND 



THE Poem 



BY 



REV. EDGAR F. DAVIS. 

On the 200th Anniversary of the Resistance to 
the Andros Tax. 

AT IPSWICH. 

JULY 4, 1887. 



SALEM : 

SALEM OBSERVER BOOK & JOB PRINT. 

1894. 



I. 



TH:: L'RAiiON 



REV. WASHINGTON* CHOATE. 



THE Poem 



sr 



REV. EDCaR F. DAVTS. 

On the -ooch Annivenjviry of the Resistance to 
the -\ndros Tlix. 



SALMI CSSKKV5K 5v.VK & J^NI FirSTt* 






Gift 
Tlie Society 






Order of Exercises 

AT THE TOWN HALL. 



Invocation, 

Rev. T. Frank Waters. 



Introductory Address, 

Hon. Chas. A. Sayward. 



Poem, 

Rev. Edgar F. Davis, of Hamilton. 



Reading of the Declaration of Independence, 

By Arthur W. Hale. 



Music, Hall Columbia, 

Ipswich Cornet Band. 



Oration, 

Rev. Washington Choate, Irvington, N. Y. 



Singing of America accompanied by the Band. 



INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 

BY HON. CHAS. A. SAYWARD. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 

Five years ago we met to honor the memory of one of our 
early settlers who had rendered valiant service to the town 
and the colony, Maj. Gen. Daniel Dennison. Two years 
later we gathered on the Meeting House Green and paid 
tribute to those sturdy men who broke the wilderness and 
commenced the plantation which soon after was organized as 
a town. And to-day, on the anniversary of our National In- 
dependence, we meet again to celebrate the bold stand taken 
by Ipswich, two hundred years ago when the inhabitants in 
legal meeting assembled, enunciated the doctrine that there 
was no right of taxation without representation, and to com- 
memorate the lofty courage and watchful patriotism of the 
leaders in that historical transaction. This is an appropriate 
day on which to refresh ourselves with those events, for they 
were the shadows and premonitions of our Independence. 

They were the handwritings on the King's wall which to 
us seem to have been prophetic of the coming Nation. 

They were the beginning of the end, for from the day 
when John Wise stood in the meeting house on yonder hill 
and in strong terms denounced the arbitrary measures of the 
agents of the crown, until the last vestige of royalty left our 
shores, the struggle then begun was continued. And al- 
though defeated for the time, the influence of that town 
meeting, held on that August day two hundred years ago, un- 



b iNTii()i)U(rr()i;v adduess. 

der the lead ol" John Wise, John Appleton, William Goodhue, 
Robert Kinsman, John Andrews and Thomas French, was 
felt tlirougli all the sul)sequent struggles with the crown, un- 
til our Independence was acknowledged and the principles 
then put in issue were fully established. Later events, like 
the wars of the Revolution and the Rel)ellion, may seem to 
obscure such early transactions, and make them appear to be of 
minor importance, 3^et it is well for us to pause and study 
those days and the men who made their history, and see how 
much we are indebted to them for our present prosperity and 
greatness. 

The old town has grown much since those days, and has 
seen two of her daughters, Essex and Plamilton, set up town 
keeping for themselves, both of whom we have invited to join 
us in reviving the days of Sir Edmund Andros and the men 
who dared to defy him. 

The descendants (jf the early settlers of Ipswich are scat- 
tered far and wide throughout the land and they are all proud 
to trace their way back to their Ipswich ancestry and we are 
proud to tind them filling positions of trust and honor. 

One of the noted men of the early days of our history was 
Reginald Foster who dwelt near the Choate Bridge. His de- 
scendants are many and are scattered throughout the United 
States. Many of them have become eminent in the business 
or professional world, others have fought on the battle-field or 
were engaged in naval battles of Colonial and Revolutionary 
days. 

One of tlie descendants of this early settler adorns the 
pulpit of the Congregational Church of Hamilton and I am 
sure you will be pleased to listen to him. It gives me great 
pleasure to introduce to you Rev. Edgar F. Davis as the poet 
of this occasion. 



THE PATRIOT PASTOR OF CHEBACCO. 



Poem read at the JOHN WISE Celebration at Ipswich, Mass., 
July ^th, 1887, by Rev. Edgar Foster Davis, of Hamilton 
{''the Hanilef). 



I will not sing of War's alarms,— 
The onset fierce, the clash of arms. 
The victor's cheer, the vanquished foe, 
The reddened field, the wail of woe ; 
Thou dost thy wonted aid refuse, 
To sing of bloody strife, O Muse ! 
Not mine the task this day to tell 
Of how our fathers fought and fell 
On Bunker's height, or Monmouth plain, 
Redemption for this land to gain ; 
Oft has the tale been told or sung. 
Oft have these walls with paeans rung 
And still shall ring for those who dared 
To face their haughty foes, and bared 
Their bosoms to the storm, and shared 
The fame of those in every age 
Whose names illume the historic page ! 
Immortal praise and honor be 
To Warren, Hancock, Putnam, Lee, 
And all their sturdy, brave compeers. 
Who in those dark and stormy years 
Imperilled life, and home, and all. 
From Tyranny to disenthrall 

The land that gave them birth, 
Nor sheathed the sword their valor drew 
Till, piercing the angry darkness through, 
The morning star of Freedom gleamed, 
Whose cheering rays aye brighter beamed- 
Enlightening the earth ! 
Still let their name and deeds be sung 
In every land, by every tongue ; 
Still let the trumpet's voice proclaim 
To all mankind their noble fame, 
And to his son the sire rehearse, 
In simple phrase or sounding verse, 
The story of that yeoman strife 
Whence issued forth a nation's life ! 



THE POEM. 

But here to-day I'll tune my l^Te, 

And sing a loftier lay : 
My muse shall tell whence rose the fire 
That flamed in patriotic ire. 

And in a later day 
In lurid ^\Tath swept from our land 
The Tyrant's hateful, hireling band 

And made it free for aye ! 
I'll sing the long forgotten brave. 
I'll lav mv offering on the grave 
Of ONE who dared what mortal man 
E'er dared to do beneath the ban 
Of tjTant lord since time began ! 

" Before great Agamemnon's time,'' 
Whilom 'twas said in prose or rh}-me. 
" That men were good, and wise, and great 
As that great king within the state." 
So here, upon this virgin sod 
Were kingly men as ever trod 
The earth, ere yet the T^Tant's hand 
Was hea\y laid upon this land : 
Ere vet the gage of strife was laid. 
And' Freedom's costly ransom paid. 
A kinglv race at nrst'did brave 
The threat'ning storm, the wintrj- wave 
To found an empire where should meet 
Religion, peace, and concord sweet : 
And others sailed the western sea ; 
This air they breathed— and they were free, 
And henceforth scorned oppression's rod, 
And leaned on Justice and their God. 

And there was One— Oh. would that now 

Some power puissant would endow 

With matchless skill my pencil rude, 

To faithfully portray 
The life unseltish. brave, and good 

Of him. with godlike strength endued. 
Who first oppression's power withstood 
In that far distant day ! 

Roll backward now. ye centuries twain, 

Roll back, and to these scenes again 

The stalwart form, the kingly mien — 

(No kinglier soul has lived. I ween : ) 

Bring_ to our grateful, longing eyes 

The Sage, and Patriot Pastor— WISE. 

Behold, he comes ! His saintly face 

Beams with a bright, celestial grace : 

And on his brow of thoughtful mould 

Is that proclaims the leader bold. 

With stride majestic see him near 



THE POEM. 

The haunts that to his heart are dear ! 

The placid river winding down 

Below the hill-engirdled town, 

Whose scattered roofs, white-shingled, gleam 

And stand reflected in the stream. 

Sweet Agawam, who now shall trace 
The pristine beauty of thy face, 
When bosomed in primeval green. 
The sturdy yeoman's cot was seen-— 
The home of thrift and mild content, 
Stern labor's meed and monument, 
And, poured round all, the silent flood 
Moved Oceanward through towering wood. 
The busy hand of time hath wrought 
Upon thy maiden face, and brought 
The wealth of many years, but not 
A wrinkle on thy brow hath made. 
For thou art lovely still ; each glade 
And hill and stream and grove and glen 
Are summer-mantled now as then. 
Thou'rt lovely still, though not the same 
Fair Agawam, as when He came 
On that auspicious summer's day, 
And trod alone thy rugged way. 
Thy hills are mansion-crowned, and now 
Proud tow-ers adorn thy rocky brow, 
And stately spires in grandeur rise 
To pierce the sunlit summer skies. 
No scenes like these that glad our eyes 
Rejoice the heart of Pastor Wise. 
From far Chebacco's rugged shore 
Resounding with the hollow roar 
Of Ocean's ceaseless, pulsing beat. 
He comes with eager, hurrying feet — 
There was his pulpit-throne, and there 
Dwelt with the flock beneath his care 
This man of God, and shepherd rare. 
And with persuasive voice and mien 
Had led them forth in pastures green, 
Till all from him had learned ere long 
Neither to do nor suffer wrong. 

Across the narrow bridge he hies. 
Along the road that nearest lies 
Below the ledge, to lead him on 
To where the sturdy Appleton 
The pastor's coming doth await 
Impatient at his farmhouse gate, 
With Goodhue, Kinsman, Andrews, French 
Glose-seated on the rustic bench 
Hard by the settlers open door — 
And standing near them scarce a score 
Of stalwart yeomen hear intent 
Their earnest w-ords without dissent. 



1Q THE POElSr. 

Now low descends the summer sun, 
Robing the home of Appleton 
In evening's soft and mellow light, , , . , ^ 
While far and near each wood-crowned height 
With blushes greets the approaching night. 

The scene is changed. I look again : 
Behold, a motley group of men 
With faces seamed, hands grirned with toil. 
Sons of the foodful sea and soil. 
Within a spacious room thev stand, 
Or thoughtful sit on either hand, 
While in their midst, with earnest eyes, 
I see the reverend pastor rise. 
And scanning close each serious face 
That turns to his of beaming grace. 
He utters that impassioned plea, 

For civil rights— for liberty, 
Assailing the unjust decree 

Of tyrant Andros bitterly. 

Such eloquence as his was heard 
In ancient Greece, I ween. 
When like the sea was Athens stirred 
To valor by her leader's word. 

And wakening from her dream 
Of peace, strove long to overthrow 
Her haughty Macedonian foe. 

" It is my voice," the pastor said, 
"This unjust tax must ne're be paid ! 
What neighbor towns may vote to do 
I cannot help, no more can you ; 
But let, I say, this goodly town 
Ne'er cringe beneath a tyrant's frown. 
We'll pay his tribute only when 
We're governed here as free-born men ; 
Our God is just— our king is good ! 
So live or die, come fire or flood. 
Come peace or war, come weal or woe. 
No God-given right will we forego ! " 

He said. That saying— who shall tell 
The influence of its magic spell ? 
It roused those Saxon breasts to flame, 
And bade them swear, in Justice' name, 
Resistance to oppression's power 
From henceforth to their latest hour. 

Thus kindled, did that sacred fire 
Within those dauntless breasts expire ? 
What though they felt the Tyrant's hate. 
And met the prisoners' dismal fate ! 
As well might scorn and prison bars 



THE POEM. 11 

Seek to control the burning stars ! 
Fetter the eagle as you will, 
Released, he is an eagle still I 

The word was said, the deed was done, 
And Freedom's conflict was begun : 
The torch was lit that through all time. 
In all this land, in every- clime. 
Should lead men from the Eg}-ptian night 
Of bondage, into peace and light 
Kindled at God's own altar here. 
Behold it shining forth to cheer 
The soul oppressed with chilling fear ! 
Like beacon star it gleamed afar 

And Henry saw its steady ray, 
And with a prophet's voice proclaimed 

The dawning of a better day. 
From Massachusetts' rock-bound shore 

To Carolina's sunlit strand, 
That heavenly radiance as of yore 

Led on each brave, devoted bind ; 
Like lurid light'ning from the cloud 

It flashed on Bunker's height; 
From out each battle's murky shroud 

Broke forth its meteor light. 
Where'er was joined the freeman s strife, 

Where'er the freeman's blood 
Was freely shed for truth and life. 

That fier}' pillar stood. 
At Gettysburg and Malvern Hill, 

Where met the Blue and Grey, 
The fire of Old Chebacco still 

To victory' led the way. 
And still that flame burns on, and when 

A thousand years have flown. 
And countless tribes of toiling men, 

Like these, have come and gone, 
That heavenly light shall beam as bright, 

And lead the world alone. 

There's a legend old that still is told 

Along the German Rhine, 
That a Warrior-king in the days of spring. 

Walks by that stream divine. 

And over the land with a bounteous hand 

He scatters his favors free, 
Till the mighty name of Charlemagne 

Is sung from Alp to sea. 



12 THE POEM. 

The Patriot Spirit lingers here ; 

And over each vale and hill 
Where our fathers strayed, and toiled and prayed, 

Rests their benediction still. 

By each s^rass-grown grave where sleep the brave 

Of our own or the elder day, 
In the silent night as in noon-day light, 

Doth their spirit walk alvvay. 

And through all this land, from the white sea-strand 

To the inland river's How, 
As the guard and guide of the nation wide 

Shall their angel footsteps go ; 

Till the earth shall reel and the stars ^all fall, 
And the waves shall roll no more, 

As they roll to-day and throw their spray 
On the bold Chebacco shore ; 

Till the silyery gleam of thy winding stream, 

Fair Agawam, at last, 
Shall only seem but a vanished dream, 

When thy glory all is past ; 

Till the moon is dead, and from out his bed 

The sun no more shall rise. 
And with lingering ray no longer play 

On the grave of the Patriot WISE. 



Ladies and G-entlemen : 

In the early history of the Colony the ministers were the 
leaders in all matters political as well as religious. The 
people turned to them in every emergency. The magis- 
trates and officei-s of the government frequently called 
upon them for advice in public affairs. Indeed the General 
Court called them together to confer with them about all 
important matters. As a body they were always defenders of 
the rights of the Colonists under the Charter and had done 
much to inspire them with the courage to maintain their con- 
struction of it. 

Of the ministers of Ipswich, Nathaniel Ward drafted the 
first laws of the Colony, called the Body of Liberties, and ad- 



REMARKS. 13 

vised the Governor and Council during the La Tour difficulty 
John Norton was sent to England as a Colonial agent. 

Thomas Cobbett was appointed on a Committee to con- 
sider the " patent laws and privileges and duty towards His 
Majesty," and was one of the twenty-four Elders who were 
asked to advise the Assistant about the complaint of Gorges 
and Mason to the King. 

In the conjflict with Andi-os, another of our ministers stood 
up and boldly counselled the people to disobey the royal agent. 

It therefore seems very appropriate that the orator for this 
occasion should come from the ranks of the clergy, — and such 
an one, who springs from sturdy Ipswich stock, I now intro- 
duce to you, the Rev. Washington Choate. 



ORATION 

BY KEV. WASHINGTON CHOATE. 



To commemorate the deeds of a true and heroic ancestry, 
the sons of old Ipswich are gathered here to-day. 

From amidst the waving crops upon tM hillsides and in the 
valleys of New England ; from the counting rooms and 
manufactories of her cities ; from the waters which wash her 
shore on the east and from the mountains which tower along 
her northern border, back to the birth place of the generations 
have the childi-en come, obedient to the call that bids them 
remember the valor of those whose very lives are woven into 
the structure of our honored and cherished institutions of 
to-day. 

The events which have found commemoration in these 
later years have too frequently been those of the recent civil 
conflict, even to the neglect of those which belonged to the 
period of our national birth. 

Most eminently fitting is that still farther backward glance 
out over another century in a history whose century- 
periods are so few, to the very fountain springs of the stream, 
which in 1776 had gathered the force sufticent to proclaim 
and to win, though at the cost and through the agonies of a 
long and exhausting war, national independence with its 
sublimest fruits, — ^liberty, civil and religious. 

It was by divine requirement that the people of the old 
Hebrew nation were kept familiar with the historical origin of 
their national institutions. Parents were required to instruct 
their childi-en in this regard. With each return of the great 
annual festival which commemorated the emancipation of the 



ORATION. 15 

race from foreign despotism, the HebreAv father took back the 
child to that great struggle through which the nation was 
born ; and the power of its inspiration Avas never suffered to 
die out of those hearts. The historic facts, out of which that 
festival of old sprang, lived from age to age in all their fresh- 
ness and proved an ever active moulding force in that national 
life. 

In this practice there was deep wisdom. It gave the great 
central institution a hold upon the affections of each succes- 
sive generation which could not easily be unloosed. It held 
each age in living connection with the fountain springs of 
their life. 

So you do well, citizens of this old Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, — dwellers on this historic spot, made sacred 
by the footsteps and voice of John Winthrop and by the 
presence of those associated men and women, — among the 
noblest of earth's noble ones, to call back to the old home 
the scattered sons and daughters of that heroic ancestry to 
join in this filial remembrance of their heroism, their j^atriot- 
ism, their quick and clear insight into every approach of 
royal tyranny, and their spontaneous and united resistance to 
every effort to lay the hand of despotism upon the freeman of 
the new world. 

" It is well," spoke the voice which, three and fifty years ago, 
on the bi-centennial celebration of the settlement of your 
town, so eloquently pictured the colonial age of New Eng- 
land : — " It is well thus filially, thus j)iously, to wipe away 
the dust, if you may, which 200 years have gathered upon the 
the tomljs of the fathers. 

" It is well that you have gathered yourselves together on 
this spot; that as you stand here and look abroad upon as 
various and as inspiring a view as the sun shines upon ; as 
you see fields of grain bending before the light summer winds, 
flocks upon the tops and descents of the many rising hills ; 
the slow river winding between still meadows, ministering in 



16 



ORATION. 



its wa}^ to the processes of nature and of art, — losing itself at 
last in the sea, as life busy or quiet glides into immortality; 
as you hear peace and plenty proclaiming with a thousand 
voices the reign of freedom, law, order, morality, religion ; it 
is well that standhig here jou sliould look hachivard as well 
as around you and forward, — that you should call to mind to 
whom under God 3'ou owe all these things ; whose weakness 
has grown into strength ; Avhose sorrows have brought this 
exceeding great joy, whose tears and blood, as they scattered 
the seed of that cold, late, ungeiiial and uncertain spring, 
have fertilized this natural and moral harvest, which is rolled 
out at your feet as one unbounded flood. 

But the sweep of our vision is not so broad to-day, as when, 
half a century ago, our fathers — perchance some of this gath- 
ering, turned back over the Colonial Period of New England 
History. 

It is not all that past — not any extended portion of it that 
we can remember to-day. 

Out from the century and a lialf which lies between the 
settlement of Agawam, under the leadership of John Win- 
tln-op, the son of Massachusetts' first governor, and that 
dividing line of colonial and national life, the war of the 
Revolution,— there rises before us one decade, nay, one brief 
half decade, in which transpired the event that calls for the 
loyal and filial remembrance of each successive generation ; 
that inhales the air which they breathed who wrought those 
noble deeds and lived those truly heroic lives. 

It is an event, single, specific, sharply outlined in time and 
feature, in character and significance which summons us to 
this commemorative service. 

We come not to look over that long jnocession of deeds and 
persons which pass before our vision as we review those years 
of arduous conflict with primeval nature, with aboriginal life, 
with an ever present repressive power that stretched its hand 
across the seas. It is not colonization, it is not the conquest 



ORATIOX. 17 

of a new world, it is not a spreading civilization which rises 
before our minds to-day. We have a specific and single duty 
to perform. To one page of history we turn. It is not Netv 
England'' 8 past, so brilliant in its leadership thiough that 
century and a half, but old Ipswich, in one event of its early 
annals, — in one hour of its infant life. To set that hour and 
that event before our luiuds is my first duty at this time. 
There was ikj darker hour i)i the whole period of New Eng- 
land Colonial history. To briefly trace the oncoming of that 
night, let us turn back a quarter of a century and recall the 
light and hope which then brightened this Commonwealth. 

In 1661, when news reached these shores that the English 
Commonwealth established by Cromwell had fallen, and that 
the Stuart Charles II, was on the throne, the General Court of 
Massacliusetts alarmed by the repeated rumors borne on every 
crossing ship, of threatened changes in the government of the 
colonies, set forth a distinct declaration of what they deemed 
their rights under their Charter. 

This declaration claimed for the freemen power to choose their 
own governor, deputy governor, magistrates and representa- 
tives ; to prescribe terms for the admission of additional free- 
men ; to set up all sorts of officers, superior and inferior, with 
such powers and duties as they might appoint ; to exercise by 
their annually elected magistrates and deputies, all authority, 
legislative, executive, judicial ; to defend themselves by force of 
arms against every aggression ; and to reject any and every 
imposition which they might judge prejudicial to the Colony. 

Here is practical independence of crown or parliament. 
We behold an essentially free colony of free men, in the ex- 
ercise of freemen's rights of self government, self defence 
and self development. And this declaration was in accord 
with the practice of the Colony. It was the utterance of rights 
which they had ever asserted and had fornearlj^ half a century 
exercised. New England was a democracy within the limits 
which the religious convictions of the age pi-escribed. 



18 ORATION. 

It concerns us not, to discuss at this time, those religious 
ideius wliich uuderLiy that newly planted life, nor the limita- 
tions whieli those ideas cast around civil and political rights 
and privileges. The Colony of JMassachusetts Bay in 1661 
claimed, exercised and rejoiced in essential self government 
and freedom. 

While not a thought of severance from the government 
across the watei-s had dawned u[)on them ; while they owned 
themselves a Colony of the mother-land ; while the occupant 
of the English throne was their Sovereign, and Westminster 
the source of their political power ; they yet had freedom^ 
sufficient to teach them its tvorth and to inspire and elevate 
their souls, wearied, but not despondent, from the contentions 
and trials with the parent country. 

" They were just so far short of perfect freedom that in- 
stead of reposing for a moment in the mere fruition of what 
they had, they were kept emulous and eager for more, looking 
all the while up and aspiring to rise to a loftier height, to 
breathe a purer air, to bask in a brighter beam." 

Let now, the essential freedom of this Mass. Bay Colony in 
1661 be our point of comparsion as we transplant ourselves 
into the midst of the darkness which had gathered over them 
in 1687, a darkness broken, not by a sweeping away of the 
clouds from their skies, but by a kindled fire of heroic patriot- 
ism in the heart of the Colony, the first flash of which 
blazed forth from the signal tower of this Ipswich hill-top, 
to be answered by the beacon light of well nigh every town 
in the old County of Essex. 

So broad an interpretation of the Charter rights of the 
colonists as the declaration of the General Court of 1661 had 
asserted, it was scarcely to be expected that the newly crowned 
Charles II, would acknowledge. And the return of the two 
Commissioners, Bradstreet and Norton, whom the Colony had 
despatched to the English Court, revealed the fact that the 
royal power was gathering its energies to reassert itself and 
even to augment its authority over its distant members. 



ORATION. 



19 



That quarter century which lies between 1661 and 1686, 
forms a distinct chapter in the long story of the struggle be- 
tween Crown and Parliament on one hand, and on the other, 
the insuppressible spirit of liberty and self government of the 
colonists, who, seeking religious freedom, here awoke to the 
fact that civil freedom was also their birtlniglit. 

That Chapter of the " irrepressible conflict " cannot be told 
to-day. Its ever darkening pages througli the governorships of 
Bellingham, Leverett and Bradstreet tell the story of deepen- 
ing gloom in the sky until at last the blackness of darkness 
swept down upon tliem in the wresting of their Charter from 
them in 1684. "Massachusetts as a body politic was no 
more. That elaborate fabric which had been four and fifty 
years in building was levelled with the dust." She was no 
longer a part of the British Empire ; she belonged to the King 
of England by virtue of the discovery of the Cabots. Her 
people might not claim any birtliriglit of Englislmien as such, 
but the crown of England might rule and govern them in 
such a manner as it should think iit. She liad no law making 
power, no executive power of lier own. This was the Court 
doctrine. This was the import of that decree which issued 
from Westminster Hall, Oct. 23, 1684. To hearts less res- 
olute than those of our fathers, it must have seemed at that 
hour as if liberty had fled the earth ; — " had returned to the 
heavens from whence she had descended." 

The foot of the tyrant was on the neck of the Colony, with 
a tread that was not relaxed but strengthened, when the 
Second Charles gave over the throne to the Second James, 
and Andros, by ro>/al ajypointment, — sat in tlie seat of Win- 
throp and Endicott. 

Let us here stay for a moment's backward look and com- 
parison with 1661. 

Then a governor of their own choice ; a legislature, the 
General Court, of their own citizens ; magistrates to enforce 
the laws of their own making ; taxes of their own impositioii 
and collected by their own appointed officers. 



20 ORATION. 

Now^ the humiliated Colony stripped of all power of self 
government, robbed of all the rights and privileges won by 
her valor and sufferings ; 7\oiv she finds in place of a governor 
chosen by freemen, in the exercise of a freeman's right, " His 
majesty's lieutenant and governor general of the Dominion 
of New England," the appointee of the Crown and worthy 
to serve such a Master ; noiv, in })lace of the colonial assembly 
and Governor's Council, the ripest minds, the noblest 
spirits, the truest hearts of the Colony, there is gathered 
about His majesty's lieutenant a council, of which a few 
members, less than the majority in syiupathy with and sub- 
servient to the royalist governor, grasped and wielded the 
whole civil power. 

" And they exercised it in the very spirit of the worst of 
the Stuarts. 

The old, known body of Colonial laws and customs was 
silently and totally abolished. New laws were made ; taxes 
assessed ; an administration, all new and gallingly vexatious, 
was introduced, not by the people in General Court, but by 
the puppit of James, and a faction of the Council, in whose 
election they had no vote ; over whose proceedings they had 
no control ; to whom their rights and interests and lives, were 
all as nothing, compared with tlie lightest wish of the Tyrant 
and Papist whom they served." 

That was the darkness of night which had shut down on 
those noble lives, after the brightness of '61. Here ends a 
chapter of New England History. Ends ? Nay, its brightest 
page is yet to he written ; its grandest event is yet to be told. 
Clear among the closing paragraphs of that chapter stands 
that event which should never be forgotten by a life that goes 
forth fiom this historic s})ot. Here should rise an enduring 
monument to tell to all generations to come the story of 
ancestral lieroism, of fidelity to principle, of fearless obedience 
to conscience and devotion to country. 



ORATION. 21 

The occasion of that event which hri^^htens this dark chap_ 
ter in the history of tlie Coh^nial period, was the cuhnina- 
tion of the despotic course of Andros. 

In three directions the power of his arbitrary government 
liad smitten heavily and keenly upon the past privileges and 
rights of the Colony. 

1. He had demanded, and enfoi-ced his demand, that the 
puritan meeting houses of our fathers should be opened for 
the service of the established churcli of England, out from 
which they had fled. 

2. He had proclaimed that the proprietorship of all lands, 
even those which had been acquired under the charter of 
Charles I. vested in the English Crown. If such a claim be en- 
forced, then not one acre of land was there between the Pe- 
nobscot and the Hudson, which had not reverted to the King, 
and which could not be sold or given by him to others than 
those who had toiled to reclaim it from a stony wilderness, and 
had fought to defend the homes they had planted on it from 
the ever present foe of the forest. 

3. He had come to this New England Colony, clad 
with the authority and filled with the spirit to exercise 
the power of levying upon these people sucli taxes as he 
deemed needful for the maintenance of his personal govern- 
ment. It was the exercise of this last assumed prerogative 
of despotism which awoke throughout the Colony, the 
spirit of resistance, and in which old Ipswich was the first 
to fling in the face of tyranny the refusal to obey. 

In August of 1687, in a little more than one half year from 
the day of his entering Boston Harlxjr, warrants went forth 
from the Council chamber of the already detested governor, 
levying upon the towns of Massachusetts Bay a tax^ not in 
itself excessive, and commanding tliem to appoint each a 
commissioner who, with the selectmen, should assess the quota 
of the town upon its inhabitants. Here was the spark which 
was to light the flames of resistance, and that fire burst forth 
from every town, save three, in Essex County. 



22 ORATION. 

A meeting of tlie inhabitants of Ipswich was summoned for 
the ^-Srd of August, for the choice of a commissioner, to unite 
with the selectmen in apportioning the quota of this town up- 
on itvS people and property. On the evening previous to that 
meetinof, in the house of one of the foremost citizens of Aga- 
warn, Mr. John Appleton, on a spot near where now stands 
your railroad station, there assembled a band of men, clear, 
sighted, true-hearted, loyal to this land of their adoption, or 
birth, tenacious of the rights of freemen, the Rev. John 
"Wise, pastor of the recently organized Chebacco parish, with 
two of his parishioners, John Andrews and William Goodhue; 
together with Robert Kinsman, Tliomas French, and the host 
of the company, Jolni Appleton himself, all honor to their 
names, to consult upon the answer which this town should 
render to the imperious demand of an alien governor. 

Would that some hand could unveil that scene, germ of 
what was at length to grow into the Revolution of 1776, and 
into the freedom of 1887, would that the pen of history had 
recorded the words of those noble men I 

But the judgment of that hour, that it was not the town's 
duty any way to assist that ill metliod of raising money "with- 
out a "general assend)ly," was by the unariimoiis vote of the 
freemen of Ipswich, ratified on the following day, in their ac- 
tion, the record of which breathes forth in every word, patriot- 
ism, valor, and devotion to the liberties which had cost them 
and their fatliers such sacrifices, that considering the said 
act, (that of the governor and council imposing the tax), 
" doth infringe their liberties as free born English subjects of 
His majesty, and by interf(!ring with the statute laws of the 
land, by wliich it was enacted that no taxes should be levied 
on the subjects without consent of an assembly chosen by the 
freemen hjr assessing the same, they do, therefore, vote that 
they are not willing to choose a commissioner for such an end 
without such a privilege ; and they moreover, consent not that 
the selectmen do proceed to levy any such rate until it be ap- 



\ 



• ORATIf»N. 23 

pointed by a general assembly, eoneiinijig with the governor 
and council." 

Truly had tliat little band of men on the evening previous, 
voiced the spirit of old Ipswich. They were leaders ; but 
side by side witli them stood every freeman of the town, shoul- 
der to shoulder in the line of resistance to arbitrary power, in 
the assertion of the birthright of freemen to lay upon them- 
selves through their 7'epresentailve assemhli/ such burdens of 
taxation as were deemed needful. And that vote went fortli 
from this spot to the council chamber of the despotic Andros, 
as the answer of the Yeomanry of Agawam to his high 
handed measure which would violate the hereditary rights of 
free born Englishmen. 

Fellow citizens, children of that generation, we cannot 
read that firm, unflinching, manly declaration of the great 
principle of all civil liberty, the principle which was destined 
within a century to become the rallying cry of the united 
colonies on these shores, — no taxation without representation, 
— we cannot read those words of our fathers without a thrill 
of pride that then, when the hearts of brave men, the colony 
over, had sunk within them, their charter torn from them, 
one of the worst of Sovereigns on the English throne, and a 
pliant, willing tool as his agent here, that then and there 
our fathers, knowing full well the power and spirit of his 
majesty's lieutenant at Boston, dared to assert the gi'eat prin- 
ciple of English libert}^ and of the American Revolution. 

And shall it be the leaders alone of that deed of patriotism, 
who are remembered to-day ? Or the rank and file of 
Ipswich's brave hearted Yeomanry, who in public vote, and 
with united voice placed themaelves beside the little band, 
whose eloquence so easily rallied them to their support in 
their defiance of tlie British Crown? With all honor to those 
who guided and counselled the deliberations of that assembled 
body of freemen on the 23rd of Aug., 1687 ; with profound ad- 
miration for their clear insight into the policy of Andros, and 



^4 ORATION. 

their daring- in counselling resistance, the pride of this town 
well may be the Kuanlinou.^ vote of her citizens which " adopted 
that declaration of right and refused to collect or pay tlie 
tax which would have made them slaves." 

But upon Wise and Appleton and Andrews and Kinsman 
and Goodhue and French, was visited the penalty of leader- 
ship; arrested, carried without the bounds of the county, im- 
prisoned, denied the writ of habeas corpus, they were tried by 
a packed jury, and declared guilty of contempt and mit*de- 
meanor. Fines, and bonds to keep the peace were imposed 
upon them ; Mr. Wise was suspended froii^the ministry ; and 
the others were disqualified for holding office. And here 
again the town nobly sustained them, refunding their fines ; 
and within two years, sending John Wise back to Boston as 
one of the Ipswich meml)ers of the convention to reestablish 
the old government, with Andros deposed and transported to 
the land whence he had come. 

But while we, the children of that generation, with those 
honored names current among us to-day, while we exult in 
the fact that as a town Ipswich stood unitedly/ against the 
royal tyranny, not one vacancy in her ranks, not one dis- 
senting vote in her refusal to surrender her chartered liberties, 
not one recreant to the spirit of those who had, across the water, 
contended with the tyranny of the First and Second Charles,and 
weie so soon to rise for the overthrow of the Second James, 
while we to-day honor the freemen of Aug. 23rd, 1687 as a 
united band of patriots, we may not fail also to render the 
meed of grateful homage, due that cluster of names, which 
will ever, in the annals of the town stand as the leaders in the 
event which brightens the pages of a dark chapter in the col- 
onial records. 

Of that group of men, who gathered in the house of John 
Appleton on the evening of Aug. 22nd, some, probably most, 
were of those who had made the sacrifice of self exile from 
the land of their birth, for the sake of the liberty denied them 



ORATION. 



25 



there, but, as they believed, to be n'07i, if not found here. 
Doabtless Appleton and Andrews and Kinsman and Freneh, 
all excepting alone, Wni. Goodhue Jr., and him whose name 
heads every record of the event, the Rev. John Wise, were 
English born, and had disclosed the metal of their spirits 
and the fibre of their natures, in their surrender of the com- 
forts of an old England home for the toil and sufferings and 
hardships of a New England freedom. 

That love of liberty, which had led them to break the ties 
that generations had woven around them, had, in some at least, 
been for half a century deepening and strengthening on these 
shores ; and it needed but the touch of the despotic hand of 
Andros to cause it to break fortli in resolute, fearless resis- 
tance. But the foremost of that band of leaders, he who was 
first among the first, — primus inter pares, — the Rev. John 
Wise, was a son of New England, born within the sound of 
those waters, which, breaking on this stern and rock bound 
coast, separated every life that awoke to consciousness here by 
three thousand miles of stormy, trackless billows from crown 
and throne, and parliaments, and the divine right of Kings, 
and ushered every such life into an atmosphere whose one 
controlling element is the divine right of the people to self 
government, self defence, self development. 

Of what influences moulded the early youth of the Rox- 
bury born lad, history is silent, save that the hand of the 
Apostle to the Indians, John Eliot, was laid upon his brow 
in the rite of baptismal consecration. From that noble, de- 
vout Indian missionary, who himself wrote so vigorously 
against " Kingly Governments " that an apology was de- 
manded of him, by the General Court of Massachusetts, the 
lad may have diunk in much of his love of liberty. 

But that love^ with a hu7-ning patriotism was firmly 'planted 
there and early manhood finds him going forth with the col- 
onial forces in the war with King Philip. Between that 
period of military service, when he "• marched with the troops 



26 ORATION. 

into the Naragansett country " and tliis day, when he appears 
as leader and statesman, lie hall" a ."tcore of years. Those 
years had ripened his powers, strengthened his convictions, 
enlarged his vision, intensified his hatred of royal despotism. 

And now, from the heart of the young man of five and 
thii'ty, whose voice had for seven years been heard in the 
pulpit of the Chebacco parish, come the words eloquent in 
their earnestness, powciful in their truth, persuasive to action, 
which called willing hearts about him and arrayed the free- 
men of Ipswich in an unbroken line, against the tyranny 
which, originating in the heart of James on the throne in old 
England, found a ready instrument for its execution and en- 
forcement in the man who was his majesty's lieutenant over 
the dominion of JVew Engfland. 

And in this leadership of the Cheljacco minister, in a move- 
ment so entirely of a civil and political character, there is in- 
dicated the position which the colonial ministry occupied in 
civil and social as well as ecclesiastical and religious matters. 

In the history of that time one fact stands out above all 
others, the intellectual leadership of the clergy, and that too 
among a laity neither ignorant nor weak. The church and 
the school were the points around which colonial life centered. 
The meeting house and the college were the radiating centers 
of even the earliest age of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

" Among the earliest official records," sa3-s a late historian 
of American literature, "• there is a memorandum of articles 
needed there, to be procured from England, the list includes 
beans, peas, vine planters, potatoes, hop roots, brass ladles, 
spoons, and ministers." We do but justice to the ministers to 
say that in the original document the article last mentioned 
here, stands first. 

During the first sixty years. New England was a Theocracy 
and the ministers were in reality the chief officers of the 
State. It was not a departure from their sphere for them to 
deal with politics, for every thing pertaining to the State was 



ORATION. 27 

included in the sphere of the church. While the newly- 
planted nation was from the beginning, and ever to be, a 
church without a bishop and a State without a King, yet the 
highest political functionaries recognized the ministers as in 
some sense their superior officers. " And the clergy, aware 
of the deference paid them, and the power of their influence, 
seldom abused it ; never forgot it. And if ever men, of real 
worth and greatness deserved such preeminence, they did- 
They had wisdom, great learning, force of will, devout con- 
secration, philantliropy, purity of life." They were states- 
men, as well as theologians. 

And so that Chebacco preacher of the gospel of peace and 
righteousness was true to his office as well as to his principles 
when he led the assembled freemen of Ipswich to cast the 
first vote of all the towns of Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 
defiance of the edict of the hated, — Sir Edmund Andros. 

But as we recall the point to which Massachusetts had been 
humbled by the sovereign power of England; as we have 
pictured the contrast between the New England of 1661 and 
that of 1686 ; and as through all that uninterrupted contro- 
versy with the crown, the colonists had ever planted them- 
selves upon their charter rights, — on what principle now, 
with charter wrested from them, with the sacred and solemn 
compact, as they had ever esteemed it, between them and 
their King, revoked, annulled, repudiated, — on what principle 
now shall these freemen stand and resist the hand that is 
fastening the chains of the slave upon them ? 

If no longer " charter rights " afford them weapons of de- 
fence, whither shall they turn for the blade to cut the bonds 
with which his majesty's lieutenant is binding tliem? For 
this weapon, the sons of men who on England's soil had al- 
ready fought the same battle, were at no loss in seeking. 

It lay in the principle on which John Hampden, sixty years 
before, had resisted the arl)itrary taxation of Charles I, tlie 
principle wliich in 1215 at Runnymede, had been wrung from 



28 ORATION. 

the reluctant King John, and there woven in the constitutional 
life of the nation, and written in their magna charta, the 
principle upon which three quarters of a century later, Samuel 
Adams and Hancock and Warren stood, in their resistance of 
the stamp act, — that if any poiver hut the peojyle^ can tax the 
2yeople, there is an end of liberty. 

But we may not pursue farther this review of that event 
which called forth every noblest trait in those noble characters, 
courage, patriotism, self sacrifice. Not yet has that scene in 
which the fathers of Ipswich were the actors, been deservingly 
painted on the page of American history. It is worthy of the 
pen of a Prescott or a Motley. A two-fold significance at- 
taches to it. 

It was, first, the spontaneous and united action of the free- 
men, of the second town in influence and importance in the 
colony of Massachusetts Ba}^ 

Ranking below Boston alone, of all the towns which three 
score years of inflowing life had planted, from the Penobscot 
to the Hudson, Ipswich, the town which in this year of 
1687, had twenty-four graduates of Harvard College, which 
in 1673 had given the Deputy Governor to the Colony, 
Samuel Symonds, which for ten yenva gave /Samuel Appleton 
to the Govern! n-'s Council, '•'■ him who had the high honor to 
be arrested in 1689 by Andros and his faction in the Council," 
as being a disentient member of the board and disaffected to 
the government and put under bonds of a thousand pounds 
for good political behaviour ; Ipsivich, which gave a president 
to Harvard, which gave a Governor to the Rhode Island 
Colony (Nicholas Eaton), Ipswich, of Ward, and Parker, 
and Saltonstall, and Wise, of Norton and Rogers, and Ap- 
pleton and Winthrop, held that position of influence and 
power, which could not fail to startle the haughty governor, 
though supported Ijy the English throne, and arouse him to 
seek the suj)pression of sucli a band of freemen. 



OEATIOX. 29 

But the abiding and universal significance of that event is, 
that it was the first note of the bugle call to Independence, to 
a national self existence, whicli, once awakened, never died 
out of the air, breaking forth once and again in the half cen- 
tury following, to be at length caught up and poured forth, 
from the plane of national interests and national liberty, in the 
eloquent words of Adams, Jefferson, Henry, Otis. 

The principle upon which stood the pleaders for liberty, who 
called the nation to set itself against the tyranny of the stamp 
act in 1767, was that which had been promulgated by our 
fathers from this spot three quarters of a century before. You 
do well to remember it to-day. It was the seed, it was the 
germ, from whicli grew the courage and resolve and finally 
national unity of 1776. Russell Lowell, writing of New Eng- 
land two centuries ago, says : — " Looked at on the outside, 
New England history is dry and unpicturesque, there is no 
rustle of silks, no waving of plumes, no clink of golden 
spurs." 

Our sympathies are not awakened by the changeful des- 
tinies, the rise and fall of great families, whose doom was in 
their blood. Instead of this we have the noise of axe and 
hammer and saw, an apotheosis of dogged work, where, revers- 
mg the fairy tale, notliing is left to luck, and if there be any 
poetry, it is something that cannot be helped, the waste of the 
water over the dam. ^xtrinsically, it is prosaic and plebeian ; 
intrinsically it is poetic and noble ; for it is perhaps the most 
perfect iyicarnation of an idea the world has ever seen. 

That " idea " was the founding here on these shores a new 
England, and a better one, where, rid of the political super- 
stitions and abuses of the old manhood.^ simple manhood should 
have a chance to play liis stake against fortune with honest 
dice, unclogged by those three hoaiy sharpers : Prerogative, 
Patricianism and Priest-craft. 

The first skirmish in that long battle, was on this spot. It 
is a thing of inestimable worth, for a race, a nation, a com- 



30 ORATION. 

munity to be able to look back on the heroic characters who 
laid its foundations, and on the principles which inspired them. 
Such, children of old Ipswich is your privilege. Forget not 
the spirit which inspired them, the sufferings which they en- 
dured, the gigantic labors, through which they wrought out 
their purpose. It was theirs to build ; remember it is youi-s, 
it is ours to keep, to perpetuate, to perfect. 



1 M TBI.ICATIONS OK THE IF^SWICH 

HISTORICAL SOCIKTY. 

II. 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 



AND 



OTHER PROCEEDINGS 



AT THE 



DEDicATioiN Of Their New Roon. 



priday, peb. 3, 1896. 



d IPSWICH: 

d INUKFEXDKNT BOOK AND JOB PRINT. 

1 1896. 



Gilt 
»j;t^ Society 



Tlie Ip5wicK Hi5toric£^I Sociely. 



PRESIDENT WATERS' ADDRESS AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS 
AT THE DEDICATION OF THEIR NEW ROOMS. 

[Reprint from tlic Ipswich Indepexdext.] 



The firs-t meeting of the society in its old Probate office serves good use. 
new room in the Odd Fellows' building Some interesting documents have al- 
took place on Friday evening, January ready been secured. By far the most 
-3d, and a goodly number were present valuable, is an a: cient petition 
at the house->\ arming. Very thorough addressed to the Quarter Sessions Court 
repairs have beeti made, and tiie old by a number of the most substantial 
post office would hardly be recognized, citizens of the ancient Ipswich praying 
A new hard wood tloor has been laid, that his license be withheld from an 
the walls cased neatly and painted in innkeeper on old High street. This 
pleasing colors, the ceiling has been was drawn about the year 1056, appar- 
papered and the windows provided eutly by the famous schoolmaster. Eze- 
with inside blinds. The furnishings kiel Cheever, and it bears the signatures 
are in excellent keeping with the bright of Cheever, the Appletons, Robert 
and inviting interior. A large cabinet, Payne, and many others. Other docu- 
10 feet in length and 7 in height with ments contain the autographs of Deni- 
adjustable shelves and plate glass front son, Francis Wainwright with his seal, 
will afford admirable accommodation and other well-known citizens. A list 
for the safe exhibition of the relics and of signatures of Revolutionary soldiers, 
valuables that may come into the cus- Col. Nathaniel Wade's orderly book, a 
tody of the society. A flat cate, with proclamation of Thanksgiving of 17TU. 
glass top, has been provided for the are also to' be noted, and among the 
display of documents, autographs, etc. books are ancient volumes by Etv. 
A large and valuable table, presented John Norton, and Rev. Juhu Wise, the 
by Mr. D. F. Appleton and Mr. Frank famous ministers of the ancient times. 
R. Appleton occupies a place of honor. The society has thus made a very 
and another table, formerly used in the encouraging beginning in its work of 



collecting, and is prepared to receive 
contributions of an historical nature 
from all who will loan or give. 

The election of officers was first in 
order and resulted in the choice of the 
following for tne year 18P6: president, 
Rev. T. Frank Waters; vice presidents. 
Charles A. Sajward and Frederic Will- 
comb; recording secretary, John H. 
Cogswell ; corresponding secretary, 
Eev. M. H. Gates; treasurer, J. I. Hor- 
ton; librarian, Miss Lucy S. Lord. 

The president then read his opening 
address, which was followed by M. V. 
B. Perley with a poera, "Lost Arts,'' 
and interesting reminiscences of Dr. 
Thomas Manning by Eev. Edward Con- 
stant and others. 

We append the historical address of 
the president: 

MR. WATEKS'S ADDRESS. 

The Ipswich Historical Society may 
well congratulate itself tonight that 
after five years of feeble and migratory 
existence, and some periods of sus- 
pended animation, it has at last 
attained a home of its own, finely loca- 
ted, convenient, and admirably 
equipped for its work, and has already 
entered, as we feel, upon a new and 
vigorous life. 

The scheme of organizing such a 
society was first seriously discussed at 
a gathering of gentlemen, known to be 
interested in antiquarian research, at 
the parsonage of the South church on 
the evening of April 14, 1S90. If my 
memory serves me, Eev. Augustine 
Caldwell, Mr. Charles A. Sayward, Mr. 
Joseph I. Horton, Mr. John H. Cogs- 
well, and Mr. John W. Nourse formed 
the group. Mr. Arthur W. Dow was 
unavoidably absent. It was the unani- 
mous sentiment of this meeting that a 
town so rich in historic remains, and so 
famous in the early annals of the Com- 
monwealth should have a local Histori- 



cal society, to foster systematic and 
accurate antiquarian studies and pro- 
mote a popular acquaintance with its 
brilliant history. 

The time seemed to them ripe for its 
organization, and then and there, they 
formed themselves into a society, to be 
known as the Ipswich Historical Socie- 
ty, and organized by the choice of Eev. 
T. Frank Waters, president. Mr. John 
H. Cogswell, secretary, and Mr. C. A. 
Sayward, Mr. J. I. Horton, and Mr. J. 
H. Cogswell, executive committee. 

During the spring and early summer 
several public meetings were held in 
the studio of Mr. Arthur W. Dow, at 
which papers on the early history of 
the town were read, and much pleasant 
reminiscence was in order. In the 
winter of that and several following 
years, the vestry of the South church 
was the place of meeting. The presi- 
dent read a series of papers on the 
original locations of the early settlers, 
and some studies on the old houses. 
Mr. Sayward contributed an interesting 
paper on the probable visits by voyagers 
to the spot, now occupied by the town, 
before Winthrop's coming. Hon. W. 
D. Northend, of Salem, read, on several 
occasions, some chapters from his un- 
l)ublished work on early colonial his- 
tory, and Mr. Winfield S. Xevins gave a 
lecture on "The Homes and Haunts of 
Hawthorne in old Salem." 

These meetings were well attended, 
and it was evident that the community 
was interested in the new organization. 
But it was evident that tl e society 
would not attain the prominence it 
sought until some permanent place of 
meeting should be secured, which 
should serve also as a place of deposit 
fur an historical collection. Mr. Daniel 
S. Burnham very generously offered to 
give the half of* the ancient house in 
East street owned by him, provided 



that the society should acquire the 
remainder of tlie estate. The ohl man- 
sion would liave been admirably 
adapted to our use in many ways, but 
its location was unfavorable, and later 
investigations have robbed it of its 
reputed antiquity and its associations 
with Rev. Mr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Cob- 
bett. No active steps were ever taken 
toward securing this property. 

The removal of the post office from 
the Odd Fellows' building afforded the 
society its opportunity. It was seen at 
once that this building realized our 
ideal. It is a brick structure, in the 
very center of our town, itself historic, 
from long use by the Registry of Pro- 
bate, At a meeting in the early 
autumn of 189.J, the project of renting 
the vacant portion was enthusiastically 
adopted, and the generous subscrip- 
tion made at that time assured a good 
pecuniary foundation for tlie new 
move. 

A committee appointed at that meet- 
ing has solicited funds with encourag- 
ing success, and provided the cabinet 
and table case from the funds of the 
s ciety. The other furnishings includ- 
ing the costly table, presented by 
Mr. D. F. Appleton and Mr. Frank R. 
Appleton, have cost us nothing. 

And now that we are comfortably 
settled in our Historical home, more 
extended reminiscences may justly be 
in order, as a prelude to the historical 
work which will be accomplished here 
we hope in the years to come. The 
land on which this building stands was 
purchased by the county in 1816. A 
lot measuring 28 feet square was bought 
of Mr. Moses Treadwell, on the north 
corner of his homestead, and an adjoin- 
ing piece, 23 feet by 28, was sold by 
Susanna Kendall, widow of the late 
Ephraim Kendall. 



The pedigree of this lot may not be 
uninteresting and may be briefly 
sketched. 

Moses Treadwell inherited his estate 
from his father, Nathaniel Treadwell, 
who bought a house and eight acres of 
laud of Daniel Eveleth, of Boston, in 
1761. Eveleth had received it by inher- 
itance from his father, Edward Eveleth. 
The senior Eveleth had married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Major Bymonds Epes, 
in 1715, and in that same year he pur- 
chased his bride's old home and made 
his residence there. Major Eppes was 
a man of goodly quality. He was well- 
born. His mother was Elizabeth, 
daughter of the illustrious and excel- 
lent Deputy Governor Simonds, whose 
estate was contiguous to this. He was 
a militia officer, a Justice of the Court 
of Sessions, and a member of the Gov- 
ernor's council for 1724 to 1734. The 
Major had purchased the property in 
1691 of Hannah Bigg, of Boston, a 
daughter of Mr. Simm Lynde, of Boston, 
and Lynde had bought it of Margaret, 
the widow of Thomas Bishop and her 
son Samuel. Samuel was college bred 
but ill-tempered and never well-bred. 
He persisted in setting his fence on the 
public domain and the officers of the 
law were instructed to cut it down. He 
spread fish of evil odor for the express 
purpose of annoying his townsmen. 
He was a man often in the toils of the 
law tor his misdoings. The old house 
then on the estate had been in use as an 
ordinary many years and John Sparks, 
a famous inn-keeper, occupied it at the 
time of Bishop's death, but vacated there 
and removed to the other side of the 
road at that time. Earlier owners seem 
to have inclut-ied one William Fellows, 
who bought of John Woodam in 1666. 
Woodam obtained it by exchange with 
John and Samuel Appleton in 165,3 



Tlie Appletons bonslit it of Thomas 
Manning in 1647, wlio had it from 
Ralph Dix, and he from William White 
who was the original grantee. 

The adjoining lot, from which a por- 
tion of the site of this building was 
purchased, seems to have been granted 
to John Jackson. Then it was in the 
possession ot William White, Thomas 
Manning, John Woodam, 1049, John 
and Samuel Appleton in l(i")'2. John 
Appleton was captain of a troop, clerk 
of courts, county treasurer, representa- 
tive to General Court, and, if the iden- 
tification is correct, a sharer in the 
Andros resistance in 1687. Samuel was 
the renowned soldier, whose eminent 
service in King Philip's war shed great 
lustre on our town. At a later period 
it was owned by John alone, then by 
his sou John, who bequeathed it to his 
son Daniel. In 1761 it seems to have 
been occupied and owned by Capt. John 
Smith. Capt. Ephraim Kendall was the 
owner in 1803, and his widow Susanna 
sold the plot 2:3 by 28 in 1816. 

Thus the Historical society finds it- 
self located on an historic site, associa- 
ted with some of the finest names of 
the early times. This mellow flavor of 
antiquity well befits its present use. 

The building erected by the county 
,vas 28 feet wide, 40 feet long and a sin- 
gle story high, and cost !?o700. It was 
finished and occupied December 15, 1817. 
For a century, excejit a few years after 
1798 when a room was fitted up in the 
new Court House for an office and 
place of deposit, the valuable Probate 
TIecords had been kept in the house of 
the Register, and their final deposit, in a 
strong vault, was an event of public in 
terest. One room in the new 
brick building, in the part r.ovv 
occupied by Mr. John A. Blake's 
apothecary store. was cased with 
iron and was deemed fiie proof. 
Here the Records were stored. The 



remainder of the floor, including part 
of Mr. Blake's i)resent store, and the 
greater portion of this loom, was occu- 
pied by the office of the Registei-. 

The wliole Probate business of the 
county was transacted here until 1852, 
when the Records and the Registry 
were removed to Salem, l)ut the Probate 
Court Continued to sic semi-araiually 
until Sei>tembfr lo, 1874, holding its 
sessions in the Town Ilail. During the 
War of the Rebellion, the vacant build- 
ing was occupied as the barracks of a 
military company recruited here by 
Cap*-. John A. llobbs. It was sold to the 
Lodge of Odd Fellows December 20, 1807 
aad enlarged by the building of an ad- 
dition .on the westerly end and adding a 
second story. The jjost office was estab- 
lished here about l8o'). 

Our Historical room has an excellent 
and honorable jiedigree, therefore, as 
well as its location. It is at once a 
singular coincidence and a Iwpjiy 
aagury that from 1817 to the present 
date, it has never been used for jnivate 
emolument, but has always served tlm 
community in very important public 
capacities. 

This old Probate office is inseparably 
associated in the mimls of the older 
people among us witli tlie name of 
Nathaniel Lord od, — -'Squire Lord" as 
he was familiarly known, who was the 
ninth Register and filled that office 
from May 29, 1815 to June 12, 1851. His 
residence was the mansion lately re- 
modelled by Mr. John B. Brown, of 
Chicago, and there the Probate Records 
were stored prior to the erection of this 
building. He had bcn'U chief clerk 
under Mr. Daniel Noyes, the i)receding 
incumbent, and was the sixth in lineal 
descent from Roliert Lord, first clerk of 
the Colonial (Quarter Sessions Couit. 
He was graduated from Harvard in 
1798, and brouglit to the di.'-charge of 



liis duties such urdeiliness and neat- T. Goodhue, but resided afterwards on 
ness and originality of method, tliat tlie corner now occupied by the South 
the Registry was made a model office. Meeting House. 

When LaFayette passed through the Another name of interest in the an- 
town in 1824, .Squire Lord addressed nals of the old Court is John Choate, 
him in a speech of welcome. Mr. the fifth judge who filled that office 
Lord's three sons all entered the legal from September 14, 1756 to February 5, 
profession; Otis P. became an eminent 1766. He lived in the ancient house, 
Justice of the Supreme Court, Nathaniel still remembered by the oldest citizens 
J. attained high rank, and George R. directly opposite the residence of the 
occupied the office of Registry from late Mr. John Heard. He was Repre- 
1853 to 1855. sentative to General Court fifteen years 

Tracing the history of the Probate between 17:^0 and 1761, and a member 
Court with which our society has be- of the Executive Council from 1761 to 
come associated, w\3 come next to 1765. He was also Justice of the Court 
Daniel Xoyes, the eighth Register, who of Sessions and of the Court of Com- 
filled the office from September 29, mon Pleas, serving as Chief Justice of 
1776 to May 29, 1815. He v.-as a gradu- the latter for the last ten years of his 
ate of Harvard in the class of 1758, and life. He was also colonel of a regi- 
master of the Grammar school from ment. "Choate Bridge" received its 
1762-1774. In 1774-5 he was a delegate name in his honor. Col. Choate was 
to the Congress of "the United Colonies, very illiterate, but a man of great 
in 1770 Postmaster, succeeding Deacon strength of character. 
James Foster, the first Postmaster -f The fourth judge, Thomas Berry, was 
the town, and always a prominent citi- one of the most norable of Ijiswich 
zen. He owned and occupied the men. A graduate of Harvard in 1712 
house, which, in a modernized form, is he first studied medicine and attained 
the residence of Mr. George D. Wildes, very lucrative practise and wide 

Mr. Noyes's predecessor was Dr. renown. Turning to the law, he be- 
Samuel Rogers, the sixth Register in came Justice and Chief Justice of the 
chronological order, whose term of Court of Common Pleas and Probate 
office was from August 26, 1762 to Sep- Judge. In political life he was a 
tember 29, 1773. His ancestry was Representative, and for many years one 
singularly fine. He was the son of of the Executive Council. As a mili- 
Rev. John Rogers and grandson of tary man he rose to the rank of Colonel. 
President John Rogers of Harvard. He He lived on the site now occupied by 
was in the direct line of descent from the residence of Mr. Joseph Ross and 
Katherine Calvin, sister of the great maintained an elaborate establishment- 
divine, John Calvin, and wife of William His chariot and servants in livery still 
Wh'ittingham, a Puiitan refugee and find place in tradition. His term of 
one cf the compilers of the Geneva office was from October 5, 1739 to Sep- 
Bible at Geneva. He was a Harvard tember 14, 1750. 

graduate of 1725, a physician, town The Register of Probate during a 
clerk, colonel of a regiment. Justice large portion of Col. Berry's judgeship 
of the Court of Sessions, and was his brother-in-law, Daniel Apple- 
Representative to the General Court, ton, fifth in chronological succession, a 
Dr. Rogers owned and probably built colonel, a representative, a Justice of 
the house now occupied by Mr. Frank the Court of Sessions and Register from 



6 

January 9, 1723 to August 26, 1762. He Wise and the otlier patriots for liis op- 

jwued and occupied the George D. position to the Andros tyranny. He 

iVildes house. Twice, this old liouse was a lieutenant colonel, a deputy and 

has sheltered the Records, we may be- a councillor, and judge of Probate for 

lieve, and I surmise that the curious tliirty-seven years, discharging his 

room or closet, without a window, in duties with great skill and fidelity, lie 

this old house, discovered when it was was also Chief .Justice of the Court of 

rebuilt, which the fertile imagination Common Pleas for many years. He 

of some dreamer conceived to be a hid- built tlie house, now ©wned by Mi-, 

ing place of some regicide, may have George D. Wildi-s, a mansion of pecu- 

been the archive room for the Probate liar interest in our reminiscences of the 

Ri cords. old Probate Court, as a judge built it 

His predecessor, the fourth Register, and two Registers owned it in later 

was Appletou's uncle, Daniel Rogers, years. In Judge Appleton's day it was 

from October 23, 1702 to January 9, renowned for its elegance and hospital- 

1723, He was the second son of Presi- ity. Many a distinguished traveler 

dent John Rogers, of Harvard, a Har- tarried here on his journey. Gov. 

vard graduate of 1686, and an eminently Shute, on his way to New Hampshire, 

successful teacher of the Grammar was his guest in 1716. The clergy of 

school, sending fifteen young men to the colony always found cordial wel- 

Harvard during his term of office. He come at his door. 

added to his duties of Register the Among the earliest names of interest 

varied functions of Town Clerk, and in this connection is that of Robert 

Justice of Court of Sessions. Return- Lord, the first clerk of the old Quarter 

ing from Salisbury on December 1, 1722 Sessions Court from 1648 to 1683, and 

he lost his way in a violent snow storm Thomas Wade, the second clerk of writs 

and perished on the marshes. He lies from 1684 to 1696. Wade was captain of 

buried in the old High street yard, and the Ipswich troop of Horse in 1689, and 

his stone bears an inscription in Latin afterwards colonel of the Essex Middle 

verse, which recites his end. His Regiment. Mention must be made as 

mother was the daughter of Gen. Deni- well of the illustrious judges of that 

son, and he bought the Denison house ancient Court, baltonstall and Symonds 

of her. It was located on Green stree t and Denison, whose fame needs no 

probably near the present home of Mr. words of praise of mine before an Ips- 

John Perkins. wich audience. 

The third judge, and the last of the 1 have dwelt thus at length upon 

Ipswich men, connected with this old these ancient worthies because we, as 

Probate Court was John Appleton, the «» Historical Society, seem to have 

eldest son of John, who was the eldest fallen heir to their renown by this acci- 

sou of Samuel Appleton, the original dent of location. I could wish that our 

settler. He was the Town Clerk of that walls might be adorned in the years to 

historic town meeting of August 23, come with portraits of these excellent 

1687, when the vote to refuse assent to men, in the flowing wig and spotless 

the Andros edict was passed, and was ermine of the judge or the emblazoned 

arrested for his complicitJ^ There unilorni of the soldier, or the embroi- 

seems reason to believe that he was the dered elegance of the colonial citizen's 

John Appleton, who suffered with John attire. True, they are connected only 



by the tie of official station with tliis 
building;', but this old Piobate office is 
the last of a series of three buildings, 
and by right, not of apostolic, but judi- 
cial succession it inherits the associa- 
tions that cluster about tlie whole 
group. 

Nearly two centuries ago, in 1704, 
December 28. a committee was ap- 
pointed to build a Town House, with a 
school house under it. They were 
instructed to erect a building about 32 
feet in lengh, about 28 feet in breadth, 
about 8 or 10 feet stud, with a flat roof 
raised about five feet. This building 
was erected as is well known in front of 
the present Methodist meeting house, 
reaching well back to the great rock, 
which has since been blasted away. 
Here the Courts held their sessions, 
civil and criminal and probate. Many 
a great lawyer of the olden time 
pleaded his case here before the august 
tribunal. Many a trembling culprit 
heard here his sentence to the whiijpiug 
post or stocks or prison. 

The first Court House was replaced, 
on its exact site, in 1793 by a second 
Court House and Town House, built at 
the joint expense of town and county, 
and the Courts continued to hold their 
term here until June, 18o4, when the 
Court of Common Pleas sat for the last 
time. The glory of the latter house 
was greater than that of the former. 
A. race of giants in forensic gifts and 
attainments had arisen. From the 
bare slope of Hog Island, part and par- 
cel of the ancient Ipswich, the brilliant 
Rufus Choate won his way to national 
renown. More than once, in the days 
of his splendid power, he swayed the 
judgment of all who heard his fiery 
wloGuenp'? within those walls. No 
doubt that other great jurist, Nathan 
Dane, whose birthplace still stands, the 
old "Patch" house, so called, on Mr. 
D. F. Appleton's farm, was seen here, 



and the famous judges of the time. 
Here, too, Webster came in 1817, to de- 
fend Levi and Laban Kenniston, accused 
of waylaying and robbing one Major 
Goodridge, He undertook the case at 
the solicitation of his old neighbors in 
New Hampshire who believed their 
townsmen innocent, though the circum- 
stantial evidence seemed conclusive 
against them. He arrived at midnight, 
entered the Court room the next morn- 
ing almost without preparation and 
secured the triumphant acquittal of 
his clients. Edwin P. Whipple says, 
"his management of the case is still 
considered one of his masteri^ieces of 
legal acumen and eloquence." I claim 
these glorious remembrances as our 
inheritance, for this building alone re- 
mains to remind the town of its large 
importance in judicial annals in other 
days. 

And now the Historical Society, 
housed so comfortably, dignified with 
its weight of honorable associations, 
conscious of its capacity to become a 
pride and honor to the town, makes 
appeal to all lovers of old Ipswich, 
whether dwelling still beneath her elms 
or far away, to rise up to her support. 
We plead for funds wherewith to pub- 
lish the results of our investigations, 
purchase gradually a library of anti- 
quarian lore, and meet our current 
expense. We ask for donations or 
loans of articles of historic interest, 
Indian remains, colonial h' irlooms, 
relicts of the Civil War, ancient docu- 
ments, portraits, pictures and aught 
else that illustrates the history of 
our town in every age. We can keep 
them more safely than their owners, 
and the community can enjoy them 
here. 

We invite independent research, and 
promise ready hearing to any investi- 
gator into any branch of our local his- 
tory We hope to foster the historic 



8 

spirit and awaken local pride to such tions with Ezekiel Cheever and liis 
degree, that ere long our commons will famous school, Rogers and Ward and 
be adorned with monuments. On the Saltonstall. who made their homes 
site of the old Town House, maj' a close by. May their names be per- 
Avorthy memorial be reared to the men petuated in enduring stone'. The 
of 16S7, who saw^ with keen vision the spots, made memorable by the homes 
greatness of the issue and made such of Eobert Payne, and Ann Bradstreet, 
strenuous and splendid protest against Denison and Symonds should bear some 
taxation without representation. On simple memorial to tell the stranger 
the Green about the historic First how rich we are in proud remem- 
church may some slab be raised to brances of great past, 
commemorate the successive houses of These great tasks await us. May we 
worship and the illustrious names' of as a Society, rejoici in our mission and 
the early ministers. The site of the pledge tonight that generous and en- 
ancient fort, and prison, and whipping thusiastic cooperation in effort which 
post should be recalled. shall be the sure pledge of eventual 
The South Green is rich in its associa- and large success. 






Publications of the Ipswich Historical Society. 
ill and IV. 

UNVEILING 

OF THE 

MEMORIAL TABLETS 

AT THE 

SOUTH COMMON, 

July 29, 1896, 

AND THE REPORT OF THE 

ANNUAL MEETING 

OF THE 

Ipswich Historical Society 

MONDAY EVENING. DEC. 7, 1896. 



IPSWICH, MASS.: 

Press of the Independent, 

1897. 



Publications of the Ipswich Historical Society 

ill. 



EXERCISES 



AT THE 



UNVEILING 



OF THE 



MEMORIAL TABLETS 



AT THE 



SOUTH COMMON, 

IPSWICH, 

July 29, 1896. 



IPSWICH, MASS.: 

Press of the Independent, 

1897. 






Giit 
Tlie Society 

Uf '05 



Order of Exercises. 



Lewis R. Hovey in the Independent. 



Wednpsday, July 29, was a momo- 
rable day for the Ipswich Historical 
Society and the citizens of this 
historic old town. Not only that, 
but it was of deep interest to histo- 
rians and genealogists in all parts of 
the state and county, for it saw the 
unveiling and formal presentation 
of the memorial shaft, whicli had 
been erected earlier in the week on 
the little green in front of the Soutli 
Meeting House, on a spot made 
sacred by the memory of five great 
and good men and the deeds they 
wrought. 

Tlie day was perfect, with a cloud- 
less sky, cooling breezes, and all 
nature In smiles. Preparations for 
the exercises of the day had been 
made by constructing in front of the 
wide church steps a raised and cov- 
ered platform, decorated with bunt- 
ing. 

The guests from out of town 
arrived during the forenoon, and 
were driven first to the public library, 
then to the rooms of the Historical 
Society in the Odd Fellows' building, 
and tlien to Appleton Farms where 
lunch was served. The list of prom- 
inent people wlio were favored with 
Appleton hospitality were: 



Rev. D. O. Hears. D. D., of Albany, 
iSr. Y.; Col. Natlian Appleton and W. 
Sumner Appleton, of Boston; George 
A. Gordon. Esq., Sec. of the N. E. 
Historic-Genealogical Society ; David 
H. B'-own, Esq., of the Medford His- 
torical Society; Mr. and Mrs. .Jesse 
Fewkes, of Newton, Mass; Edward 
E. Hines. and Fran 'is H. Appleton 
and daughter, of Pealiody; Hon. 
Robert S. Rantoul. President of tlie 
Essex Institute, Mr. and Mrs. James 
Averill, William S. Nevins, Mr. and 
Mrs. George L. Peabody, all of S;ilem ; 
Rev. John Prince, formerly of Essex, 
and others. 

Ipswich was represented by the 
board of selectmen, Messrs. Luther 
Wait, John A. lirown and A. IL 
Spiller; Revs. E. Constant, T. Frank 
Waters. E. E. Harris, M. H. Gates 
and Fr. Donovan; John W. Nourse, 
Hon. Fred. Willcomb, John H. Cogs- 
well and others. 

At three o'clock there was gathered 
about the South churcli, besides the 
invited guests from in town and out, 
a large assemblage of townspeople, 
and shortly after the appointed time 
President Waters, in a few well 
chosen words, presented Hon. C. A. 
Say ward, who delivered the address 



of welcr.me in behalf of the Society who laid out tho first Ipswich and 
and town. Haverhill." said he. 

licv. Edward Constant, of the First Hon. Robert S. RantonI, ex-mayor 
Coi <>i'e<>ational cluiich, invoked the ol* Salem, and President of the 
Di\ine blessini;-, after wiiich Presi- famous old Essex Institute, "tlie 
dent AVaters announced tiie unveil- '" '-her of us all," as Chairman 
ino- of the tal)Iet by Miss Muri<d Waters aptly lenned it, was the 
Tn(d<ei-man, a lineal deicendant of ^^^^^ speaker. He expressed his 
Jiichaid Sallonstall, and oiand- friatiflcation at beino; present, and 
daughter of f). F. Appleton. As his remarks, of a historical nature. 
Miss Tuckernuin drew aside the were clear and lucid. He spoke of 
.American fla.u- wliicii covered the tl>P Kssex Institute and its fine col- 
shaft tiiere was loud and long con- lections, with many things of direct 
;inued applause. interest to Ipswich. Among these 

Rev. T. Frank Waters, President l'"^.^'' """e =.'-e more valuable tluu. 
of the Ipswich Historical Society, ^' P'^ture of Governor W.nthrop. 
then delivered the dedicatory ad- " I'l'ere is not a pla<re in the state 
dress. At its close he introduced or country with more real history to 
Mr. George A Gordon of Boston, the square inch than Kssev county," 
S.c. of the New England Historic- ^'^'^^ Mr. Rantoul. '-and if we are not 
Geneah.gical Society, who repre- "o^v in the lead in wealtn and promi- 
S(nted the Society.' He expressed "^"^6 ^f Massachusetts counties, 
regrets at the President's absence, P^'^vious to 1825 old Es^ex most cer- 
but pleasure at his own presence on ^''i'^'y stood at the head." 
such a notable occasion. His Rev. Dr. Mears was the last speak- 
;;(ldress, though brief, was of great 6'"; '^ native of Essex, the old Che- 
interest, inasmuch as he brought up bacco Parish, but now of Albany, 
severaii)oiiitswliich would not other- N. Y He was, as usunl, intensely 
wise have been toucl^ed upon. His dramatic, and his eloquence was 
advice that the Society get together punctuated with applause that be- 
in printed form a book of historic- tokened unfeigned appreciation, 
genealogical data, was a most excel- "Xothing has been said about the 
lent one, and one which it is hoped wills or inheritances which these 
Ipswich men of means will not be noble men left," said he, '-but it was 
long in following out, for their own their character while living that we 
good and thatof the town in general, love to dwell upon and seek now to 
"While you are erecting a monu- everlastingly perpetuate with monu- 
ment to the memory of these five mental granite and bronze." 
men whose names are thereon in- "Nathaniel Ward was truly a 
scribed, do not forsret such men as greater man than we think. Not 
Samuel Simonds, one of Ipswich's only did he frame the code of laws 
first settlers, and George Giddings, by which this colony was governed, 



but from Hint code wns nndonhfedly iriff honse; second, the training- field ; 

taken imioli tliat went to make up tliird, schools. May the land our 

the body of our national and world- fathers founded ever be as free as 

famed Constitution." the air we breathe this day." 

'•John Wise, of Essex, was another (Applause.) 

man, as nobjp as any of the rest. A After tliankinj? all for aid in mak- 

ministor of CiiPbacco Parish, he was inji: the affair sucli a pronounced 

(lie first to suffer because of a refusal success. Mr. Waters announced the 

to sul)mit to unjust taxation. lie close of the exercises, and invited all 

dffieil Andros, ami lie was impris- to a closer inspection of the tablets, 

onetl because he would not bow the Tlipse are of bronze, cast by tlie 

knee to that des[)otic Governor." Hhike Bell Foundry, of Boston, and 

"•It is better to be well born than are affixed to a hantlsome granite 

to have an inheritance.' Truly more shaft from the works of Barton & 

trutiiful woids were never spoken." Williams, of Ipswich. The inscrip- 

Dr. iMears eulogized old Ipswich tions thereon are reproduced in tbls 

and her noble men, in language pampiih-t. as is also a photogi-aiih by 

which causrd unstinted jnd well George K. Dodge of the South face 

deserved ai)i)lause from those pres- of tiie tablets. The addresses of 

ent. -'Tiiey defended and nourished Picsident Waters and Hon, C. A. 

three things," said he: '"first, a meet- S.iyward follow. 



.^< 






^ 



Here stood 

THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE 

OF THE 

1747 SOUTH PARISH. 1837 

The EXPEDITION AGAINST QUEBEC, 

BENEDICT Arnold in command, 
Aaron Burr in the ranks, 

marched by this spot sept. 15, 1775. 

REV. WILLIAM HUBBARD 

pastor of the IPSWICH CHURCH 

1656 —1704. 

Historian of the Indian Wars 

lived near the river about 

a hundred rods eastward. 

erected by 
the ipswich historical society 

1896 



A FEW RODS EAST OF THIS SPOT 
WERE THE DWELLING AND SCHOOL HOUSE OF 

EZEKIEL CHEEVER 

FIRST MASTER OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 

1650 —— 1661 

On THE EAST SIDE OF THE COMMON 

WAS THE HOUSE OF 

REV. NATHANIEL WARD 

1634 MINISTER OF IPSWICH 1637 

AUTHOR OF 

" THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM " 

COMPILER OF 

THE BODY OF LIBERTIES 

THE RESIDENCE OF 

RICHARD SALTONSTALL 

WAS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COMMON 

AND THAT OF 

REV. NATHANIEL ROGERS 

PASTOR OF IPSWICH CHURCH 

1638 -^— 1655 

WAS ON THE WEST SIDE. 



!v.-o 




- ViiiX 


Kn 


16S"? 














A 




m 




•9 


^ 


[ 


..-mm 


.,.sfi 


1 


31 


k' 



'\ 



GEO. K. DODGE, Photo. 

Memorial Tablets, South Green, Ipswich. 



INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 



J5Y HON. CHA8. A SAY WARD. 



Mb. President, Ladies and Gen- 
tlemen: 

Au eminent writer lias said that 
"one touch of nature makes the 
whole world kiu." Whether that 
statement he true or not, I feel sure 
that you will all agree with m« 
when I say that one touch of the 
Colonial Days makes all New Eng- 
land kin. 

The history of a locality, the 
events which transpired there, the 
men who made its history and 
participated iu its evente are not 
the exclusive property of that lo- 
cality. 

Boston has no exclusive right to the 
memory of her Blackstone and the 
story of lier settlement. Halem can- 
not preempt tlie fame of her Conaut, 
Higginson and Endicott. Plymouth 
cannot confine within her boun- 
daries the fame of her Pilgrim 
founders. Ipswich does not claim 
any exclusive right in the history 
of her settlement, or the fame of the 
sturdy and noble men who laid lier 
foundations and erected such a 
strong and comely structure thereon. 

The settlements scattered here and 
there on the bays and water-ways of 
New England, all together, estab- 
lished and forced into existence 
that section of our couiitry whicJi 
v\'asthe home and workshoi^ of our 



fathers, and which is so dear to 
every one or their descendants to- 
day. Tlie story of the settlement of 
each of oui" towns and the men iden- 
tified with them is the common 
property of all New England and in- 
deed of the entire country. 

Acting upon this princple, the 
Ipswicli Historical Society, has in- 
vited the Mass. Historical Society, 
the N. E. Genealogical Society and 
local Historical Societies about the 
county, as well as many persons in- 
terested in the story of early days, 
to come here today and participate 
with us in the unveiling of this 
shaft and the ceremonies of its dedi- 
cation. 

We want you all to know of the 
part our town took in the develop- 
ment of the colony and state. We 
wish to extend and perpetuate the 
fame of our fathers who left such 
a grand record f^r their descen- 
dants. 

On behalf of the Ipswich Histori- 
cal Society, I extend to you all a most 
cordial welcome, and hope that as a 
result of this meeting, your archives 
may be enriched with facts that will 
be of interest to you and to those who 
follow you, and that each will en- 
joy the occasion and carry away 
pleasing memories of the day and of 
our town. 



ADDRESS 

BY REV. T. FRAMC WATERS. 



I HIS spot was never wet with 
''■ heroes blood, as the common of 
old Lexington — nor lias it had the 
stirring and even tragic part in our 
history that has fallen to the lot of 
our Meeting-House Green, crowned 
iQ the earliest days with meeting- 
house and prison, town-house aiid 
court-house, stocks and whipping 
post. This fair Green has ever been 
a placid spot as now, vexed by no 
ruder sound than the cow-herd's 
horn, which summoned together 
here the neighborhood kine at the 
liour of sunrise, and at sunset bade 
their owners come and take their 
cows; or the word of command when 
the men and boys of the ancient 
town were drilled here in the man- 
ual of arms. And yet this Common 
lias been a spot of living interest in 
many generations. 

Here some of the finest men of 
their age, or of any age. built their 
homes, thought and wrought, trained 
up their children, entertained their 
friends, and tlieir names and the 
work they did are known and felt 
and honored of all who knew the 
story of New England in its first 
eventful eentin-y. 

The wilderness, was hardly broken 
and a few simple houses had been 
built by the pioneer settlers, when 
there camo hither a man, already 



past the prime of life, for he was in 
his flfty-sixth year, to be the preach- 
er, Nathaniel Ward. His life had 
been highly favored. His father 
was an honored minister in Old 
England. His two brothers chose 
the same profession. He alone of 
the three sons, having graduated 
from Emanuel College, Cambridge, 
chose the law. He was admitted as a 
student at Lincoln's Inn Hall, May 
15, 1607, and was nominated a barris- 
ter Oct. 17, 1615. He travelled far 
and wide on the Continent, and at 
Heidelberg met a celebrated theolo- 
gian, Parens, Professor of Theology 
in the University, and at his instance 
decided to enter the ministry,— 
when he was about forty years of 
age. He became rector at Stondeu 
Massey, in the county of Essex, and 
while there his staunch Puritanism 
was put to a sore test. He refused 
to subscribe to the articles establish- 
ed by the Canon of the Church, 
Summoned before Archlishop Laud, 
he refused to conform and was 
roughly excommunicated in 1633. 
His wife died at about the same 
time. Lonely, sorrowful, despairing 
of any asylum in England, in com- 
i mon with multitudes of Puritans, 
Ward turned to the New World and 
! landed in the year 16.H4. His first 
' winter was spent in Mr. Winthrop's 



8 



ADDRESS. 



house; but betore another wiuter 
came we may presume that 
his own humble house was built, 
somewhere on this eastern side of 
our Common. The house was stand- 
ing: in Cotton Mather's time, and he 
says that Ward had inscribed over 
the fireplace, the Latin legend, "So- 
brie, juste, pie," and afterward, 
"laete " (Soberly, justly, piously, 
gladly.) 

Sober indeed was the life of the 
Cambridge scholar in these years. "I 
intreate you," he wrote pathetically 
to John Wiutlirop when a ship-load 
of provisions had arrived. "I in- 
treate you to do so much as to speake 
to him (Mr. Coddiugton) in my name, 
to reserve some meale and malt, and 
what victuals else he thinks meete, 
till our River be open; our church 
will pay him duely for it. I am verv 
destitute; T liave not above Gbushells 
of corn left, and other things answer- 
able." It was only the 24th of De- 
cember. Glad Christmas bulls were 
about ringing in the mother land 
and all was niirth and jollity at tlie 
very moment when he was pleading 
for bread. 

In a few years his health became 
so much impaired that he gave up 
his ministry. "I acknowledge I am 
tender and more unfit for solitari- 
ness and hardship than some otJier, 
especially at this tyme, though 
many colds and seeds of tlie bay 
sicknesses, I brought Irom tlience," 
he wrote again to VVinthrop. 

His release from pastoral labors 
marked also the beginning of other 
tasks whicli have made his name 
memorable. He had already made 
Jiis impress on his time. In the year 



1638 he was requested by the Colony 
to draw up a code of law's, as no 
written statutes had as yet been 
formulated. He ^vas fitted for this 
task above any other man in the 
Colony, perhaps, by his legal learn- 
ing, his long familiarity with the 
legal systems of the old world, and 
his mature years. He wrought dili- 
gentlj' upon this task for some three 
years, and the result of his labors 
was a code of one hundred laws, 
which was submitted to the judg- 
ment of tlie General Court and dis- 
cussed in every town ; — altered some- 
what ill form, but Iiually adopted in 
tlie year l(jll, and Gov. Winthrop 
speaks of the Code "as composed by 
Mr. Nathaniel Ward." In the judg- 
ment ot his contemporaries there- 
fore, Mr. Ward was the recognized 
author or compiler of this system of 
laws which were called the IJody 
of Liberties, 

This document has challenged the 
admiration ot many acute students 
of the colonial days. Speaking of 
the Preamble, Mr. W. F. Poole ob- 
serves: 

"This sublime declaration stand- 
ing at the head of the first C'ode of 
Laws in New Knglaud,-was the pro- 
duction of no common intellect. It 
has the moveuK-nt and the dignity 
of a mind like John Milton's or Al- 
gernon Sidney's, and its theory of 
government was far in advance of 
the age. A bold avowal of the rights 
of man, and a plea for popular free- 
dom, it contains the germs of the 
memnrabh declaration of July 4, 
1770. 

Dr. Francis C. Gray remarks upon 
the originality of this Code, "al- 



ADDRESS 



9 



though it retains some strono: traces 
of the times, it is, in the main, far in 
advance of them, and in several re- 
spects in advance of the Common 
Law of England at this day "(1818) " 
"It shows that our ancestors," he 
continues, instead of deducing their 
laws from the books of Moses, estab- 
lished at the outset a code of funda- 
mental principles, which taken as a 
whole, for wisdom, equity and adap 
tation to the wants of their commu- 
nity, challenge a comparison witii 
any similar production from Magna 
Charta itself to the latest Bill of 
Rights that has been put forth in 
Europe or America." 

Who can estimate aright tlie far- 
reaching and. powerful influence of 
tins legal code upon the people of 
New England in fostering their love 
of liberty, mainiaiuiug their civic 
rights, and securing tliat profound 
and stable rectitude which has been 
the glory of New England in all these 
generations! Great is the glory, that 
from the quiet homes of the Ipswich 
ministers here beside our Green, this 
potent influence should have sprung 
as from its source and fountain head. 

It makes intelligible that Provi- 
denc<e that brought into the wilder- 
ness, to its want and hunger, and 
loneliness and scant companion- 
ship, the ripe Cambridge scholar 
and traveller with his three-score 
years. 

Bur Nathaniel Ward had other 
work than this. In 1646 that literary 
work which is linked indissolubly 
with his name — "the Simple Cobler 
of Aggawam" — was completed and 
sent to England for publication. Its 
success was remarkable. Four edi- 



tions were called for before the year 
closed. Its pungent and striking 
criticisms were in unison with the 
spirit of the times. Its wondrous 
vocabulary surpassed the Carlylean 
dialect of later days. We may claim 
foi it almost the same distinction as 
a pioneer work in the department of 
prose composition, that belongs to 
Ann Bradstreet's volume in the 
realm of poetry, for no work of 
the earlj days can compare with it 
in originality of style, vigor of 
thought and uniqueness of theme. 

In the year following the begin- 
ning of Ward's ministry, a welcome 
addition to the little company set- 
tled here was made, when Richard 
Saltonstall, eldest son of Bir Rich- 
ard, chose this town for his home. 
He was but 25 years old but already 
a graduate of the Puritan College, 
Emanuel of Cambridge. With him 
came his young wife Merriel, or 
Muriel, Gordon, only 22 years old, 
and their baby Muriel of nine 
months. I conceive that Mr. Ward 
was more than glad to welcome this 
youthful trio to his near neighbor- 
hood, -just across the Green — ; and 
his heart grew waim and young 
again, when their presence bright- 
ened his quiet home; and he held 
the baby Muriel in his arms and told 
how, in the long years past, he had 
held the darling Prince Rupert in 
his babyhood in like fa?hion. 

The community honored young 
Saltonstall at once, with responsible 
public office. He was elected De- 
puty to the General Court, and in 
1636 he was appointed to hold court 
in Ipswich. He was chosen Assist- 
ant in 16B7. Young as he was, Mr. 



10 



ADDRESS. 



Saltoustall became a conspicious fig- 
ure. In March 1635-6, theGeueial 
Court passed an order providing 
that a certain number of magistrates 
should be elected for a life-terra as 
a standing council. The measure 
proved unpopular. The people saw 
In tliis an irresponsible body, the 
existence of which was wholly con- 
trary to democratic ideas. 

Some action was taked by die 
court looking towards its dissolu- 
tion, but the Council still remained. 
Whereupon Mr. Saltonstall, then 
an Assistant with fair prospects of 
becoming a member of this life- 
board, wrote a book, in which lie 
argued with much force that it was 
contrary to the charter and a sinful 
innovation. The book gave great 
oll'ence and many were eager for 
summary punislimeiit to be visited 
upon the author, — but the matter 
M'as dropped and tlie book was re- 
ferred to the Elders. They all met 
here in Ipswich in 1642, Oct. 18, dif- 
fered much in their judgment about 
it, but acknowledged tlie soundness 
of the propositions advanced. 

Again in 1645 wo find iiiin, single 
handed and alone, lifting up his 
voice like a trumpet in the Great 
iiiid General Court, when Capt. 
James Smith, master of the sliip 
Ilaiubow, had brought into the 
country two negroes stolen from tlio 
Guinea Coast. He denounced tlie 
heinous act of stealing these poor 
blacks, as contrary to the law of God 
and the law of this country; demand- 
ed that the officers of tlie shii^ be 
imprisoned, and addressed a peti- 
tion, signed by himself alone, pray- 
ing that the slaves be rotunicd at 



the public expense. 'Ihus early was 
Ipswich found, not only demanding 
liberty for herself but euiaiieipatiou 
for the bondman. 

Now we find Nathaniel Rogers 
with his company of friends in old 
Ipswich. He built his house near 
where the house of many gables 
stands today. He was in his fortieth 
year, a student, a man of slender 
health, not so bold and aggressive as 
the sturdy Ward and the impetuous, 
young Saltoustall, but a man of com- 
panionable spirit nevertheless. 

More than ome these three 
worthies were found acting in con- 
cert in affairs of largo public interest. 
La Tour arrived in JJoston in 1643 
and sought of Gov. Winthrop ludp 
against liis rival, D'Aulany, who 
had blockaded the St John Kivor. 
Winthrop permitted him to hire four 
ships and a pinnace, and sail away. 
This act roused severe criticism, and 
on the day the little fleet sailed, a 
vigorous written protest was hand- 
ed the Governor, by Saltonstall, 
Ward and Rogers, John Norton and 
Simon Bradstreet, and Rev. Ezekiel 
Rogers of Rowley. Dr. Palfray finds 
Ward's hand in the pungent language 
others atti-ibute it to Saltfuistall as 
the prime mover in the enterprise. 
Be that as it may, it was an Ipswich . 
protest. 

Hero, in (jik; of lliose houses about 
our Common, the Ipswich clergy 
and magistrates may haye taken 
deep counsel together, and di'aftcul 
this historic document. Winthrop 
failed of re-election. Dudley was 
chosen governor but this trouble- 
some French business would not be 
sottlod. In 1645 a commission was 



ADDRESS 



11 



appointed and aiitliofi/ed to search 
out the whole truth, but the same 
Court granted La Tour liberty lo 
arm and equip seven vessels, and 
Mr. Saltoustall di-e\v up a solemn 
minority protest against such action, 
Mr. Ilathorne aloae signing with 
him. No state paper of the period, 
it is atlirmed, excels this document 
in vigor of expression and loftiness 
of tone. 

But political arfairs were not the 
oiily themes of common interest. I 
like to think of the neighborly 
gatherings in this house or in that; 
tlie keen interest with which they 
talk of progress of Puritanism in the 
liome lane-, or discuss the last word 
from the Pequot war;— or the hours 
of good cheer, when the air grew 
cloudy with the smoke from Mr 
Roger's pipe, and the wine went 
round, and the rigor of the wilder- 
ness winter and every fretting cir- 
cumstance was forgotten, 

Others too went in and out about 
this spot. The brilliant .John Nor- 
ton, teacher of the ancient church; 
grutf Thomas Dudley, courtly Bimon 
Bradstreet, destined for the highest 
honors his Colony could bestow 
upon him, and his delicate wife, 
Ann, the famous poetess who was 
^jiighly esteemed by Mr. Ward; and 
'every other staunch citizen of the 
day. Governor Winthrop and the 
younger Winthrop in his occasional 
visits,— and every other man of rank 
doubtless was seen in this line 
neighborhood— made more inter- 
esting by the settling of Giles Fir- 
min, the physician, next door to 
Ward, who was his father-in-law. 
Time wrought changes fn this 



famous company. Firmin returned 
to England and won renown as a 
l)reae!ier. Ward left his Ipswich 
home for the old country in 164G. 
Saltonstall was more in England - 
than in the Bay Colony in his ma- 
turer years. Rogers was the last to 
disappear. He dwelt here till he 
died, in 1655. 

But before his decease another 
note-worthy personage was here, 
Ezekiel Cheevor, the famous school- 
master. He too was an Emanuel 
College man, any other would have 
felt himself out of place. He came 
in 165(1, in heaviness of spirit, with 
five motherless children, and his 
grief for their mother yet fresh. But 
he was in full vigor of his manhood 
and gave himself manfully to hi:* 
task as Master of the Grammar 
iSchool. Years before, a school had 
been taught by Leionel Chute, but it 
had ceased to be. Some of the 
prominent citizens grew urgent in 
their desire for another ecliool. Mr. 
Cheever had gained marked success 
at New Haven, but his work 
there was interrupted by sharp re- 
ligious bickerings and he was glad 
to remove to this community. Was 
it the high literary atmosphere of 
this old neighborhood that moved 
Robert Payne to buy yonder ten 
acres with the house upon them for 
the school-master's home? A school 
house was built on tliis corner and 
there Mr. Cheever taught with dis- 
tinguished success for eleven years. 
In six years there were six young 
men students at Harvard College, 
who had probably entered from this 
school, and others followed. 

Cheever's striking personality 



12 



ADDRESS 



must have given the school uuique 
distiuctiou iu its own time, (/otton 
Mather was one of his pupils iu his 
later years, when he taught the Latin 
hchool in Boston. He has given us 
a brief glimpse of the teacher iu his 
school-room. He tells us "of his 
l^iety and liis care to infuse docu- 
ments of piety into the scholars un- 
der his charge, that ho might carry 
them with liiiu to the heavenly 
world. He constantly prayed with 
us every day and catechised us every 
week, and let fall such holy counsels 
upon us; ho took so many occasions 
to make siieechos to us that should 
make us afraid of sin, and of incur- 
ring the fearful judtrnients of God 
for sin, that I do not propose him for 
emulation." 

Rev. John i>arnard of Marhlehead 
was a scholar of b. is old age in Bos- 
ton. "I remember once," he said, "iu 
making a piece of Latin my master 
found fault with the syntax of one 
word, whicli was not so used by me 
heedlessly but designedly, and there- 
fore I told hina there was a plain 
grammar rule for it. He angrily re- 
plied there was no such rule. I took 
the grammar and showed the rule to 
him. Theu he smilingly said, "Thou 
art a brave boy, I had forgot it," and 
no wonder for he was then above 
eighty years old. 

Tlie "grammai" of which Barnard 
speaks was "Tiie Accidence" of 
Cheever's own composition, publish- 
ed while he was in New Haven. 
Pres. Quincy of Harvard College 
speaks of it as "a work which was 
used for more than a lientnry in the 
schools of New F'ngland, as the first 
elementary book for learners of the 



liatin language, which held its place 
iu some of the most eminent of those • 
schools, nearly, if not quite, to the 
end of the last century ; which has 
passed through at least twenty edi- 
tions In this country; which was 
the subject of the successive labor 
and improvement of a man who 
spent seventy years in the business 
of instruction, and whose fame is 
second to no school-master New 
England has ever produced, requires 
no additional testimony to its worth 
or its merits." 

Yondercorner is forever hallowed by 
the memory of the prayers and toils 
of.that one great leacher. Were those 
eleven years in which lie wrought 
the end of that fine effort for ad- 
vanced education in our midst, it 
would bo a luminous epoch, in our 
annals. But that school continued 
when he was called to Charlestown. 
The town granted for its support a 
great farm in Chobacco. "William 
Paine made gift of Little Neck, and 
the revenue fiom these properties 
made helpful C(nitribution to its sup- 
port as It does still to our High 
School. 

The fine public spirit which ani- 
mated Kobert Payne when he bought 
these two acres with the dwelling 
thereon, aiid built the school-liouse, 
and William Hubbard and William 
Paine and the whole bowly of fieo- 
holdcrs, reveals the high value which 
our fathers attached to the highest 
education. A nuiltitudo of men, who 
liave made grand work of life, had 
never done so well if that school had 
not brought them their opportunity . 
of in'eparatiou for tlie Coll»ege. Tiie 
Ipswich of after years, with its noble 



ADDRESS 



13 



lii-story, is larj^ely tho cretitiou of 
that old Grammar School and we 
do well, most surely, hi rearing here, 
ou or near the School House Green, 
as it was anciently called, this en- 
during memorial of its beginning. 

William Hubbard was the son of 
William Hubbard, an eminent resi- 
dent of our town. He was a member 
of the first class tiiat graduated at 
Harvard College in 1642. While Mr, 
Choever was in the midst of his 
labors, Mr. Hubbard became the col- 
league of Rev. Mr. Cobbett, the 
pastor of the Church, and for nearly 
a half century, he upheld the ex- 
aulted reputation of the ministry of 
tho ancient church. In the pulpit 
he was the peer of the ablest, but his 
name is remembered chiefly for the 
valuable contributions which iie 
made to the history of his times, 
His ''History of the Indian Wars" 
was published in his own time. Plis 
'•History of JNew England was left in 
manuscript but has been published 
within the present century." 

Ho married in early life, Margaret, 
the daughter of Kev. Nathaniel 
Rogers, and v/hen the young wife 
went from her father's home, it was 
but a little waj'^ to the sightly spot 
on tiie river bank where her new 
home was; and wlien. in his old age^ 
he married again, he chose the 
widow Pearce, his neighbor, despite 
the complaint that she was not a fit 
person for such high distinction. 

Thus Hubbard is of peculiar inter- 
est to us--, as the first of the men of 
tiie latter days whose learning was 
not that of Cambridge on the Cam 
but Cambridge on the Charles. 
From his childhoo:! ho was identi- 



fied witii this towti. His large his- 
torical work was accomplished in 
our midst. His very helplessness in 
conducting liis financial affairs, 
which involved him in constant dif- 
ficulties with his creditors, rouses 
our symiiathy. I like to think of 
him as a childish-minded man of 
the world, who lived in the realm of 
letters in sublime disregard of com- 
mon things, the easy victim of any 
designing knave. In the March 
court, 1673, a group of abusers of his 
kindness was brought to grief. Peter 
Leycrcss, Jonas Gregory and Lyman 
Woods for stealing and using five 
gallons of wine from Mr, Hubbard's 
were judged to pay him 5£. 

The same Peter Leycross was pun- 
islied for other thefts of a gallon, and 
one of three quarts. Peter and .Jonas 
were also convicted of stealing a 
sheep from him, and Jonas was 
proved guilty of stealing a "fatt 
weather;" while Nathaniel Emer- 
son for being present at the unhal- 
lowed orgies, when the minister's 
wine was drunk, "was admonished.'' 

These are the men whose names 
are written on these enduring tablets 
Three ministers, a magistrate and 
law-maker, and a school-master; 
each illustrious in his calling, all 
conspicuous in public affairs; a not- 
able group of wise, strong, high- 
minded, devout-souled men. We 
may well add to these illustrious 
names that of Giles Firmin, Ward's 
son-in-law and neighbor, the phy- 
sician of the community, who grew 
tired of the slender returns from the 
practice of pliysic, went back to 
England and won renown in the 
ministry; and Rogers's son John, 



14 



ADDRESS. 



more famous thau himself, who ia- 
herited his father's homestead autl 
combined the functions of the min- 
ister and the physician. He became 
the President of Harvard College, 
but died on the day of his first com- 
mencement, July 20, 1GS4 His widow, 
Elizabeth, daughter of the soldier, 
Gen. Daniel Denison, continued her 
residence here many years. Nor can 
we forget Ellen Lothrop,— sister of 
Capt. Thomas Lothrop, who fell at 
Bloody Brook,— whom Ezekiel Chee- 
ver married in due season. Thus 
there are military associations and 
reminders of sad scenes and direful 
events, that interweave themselves 
with the quiet annals of this rare 
spot. 

Our winding, elm-shadod street 
itself is a landmark of the earliest 
days. How many generations of 
travellers have passed along its quiet 
path. Whether it was over this 
highway that Gov. Wiuthrop came 
to town, on foot on an April day in 
1634, to visit the nevs' settlement and 
tarried over Sabbath to preach to the 
people, we may not allirm. A pop- 
ular tradition has it that the original 
way to Ipswich was by way of the 
present Topsfield road, but traditions 
are of uncertain value. John Dane 
tells us in his Diary, that he came 
from Iloxbury to Ipswich, "when 
there was no patli but what the In- 
dians had made. Sometimes I was 
in it and sometimes out of it," he 
naively writes. It was probably 
over this highway that the good gov- 
ernor came, under escort of the Ips- 
wich soldiers, in June 1G;J7, when the 
Pequot war was making men's hearts 
to fail tliom for fear; and the little 



army of seventeen brave young men 
of Ij^swich had marched this way, 
we may presume, toward the seat of 
war in April of that year. 

But the day of meandering and 
uncertain Indian trails was soon to 
end. November 5, J639, each town 
was obliged to join with its neigh- 
bors in laying out the highways, and 
the Ipswich and Rowley surveyors 
report that the highway had 
been laid out in due form, "along 
by Mr. Saltoustall's house, over the 
Falls at Mile River, and by marked 
trees over Mr. Appleton's meadow, 
called Parly e Meadow, and from 
thence by Mr, Plubbard's farm house 
— "and so on through Wenliam to 
Salem. The bridge over the River, 
on tlie site of the present Choate 
bridge was completed in IG-11, and 
from that time a stream of travel 
has flowed continously by this spot» 
on this goodly highway, eigb.t rods 
wide. 

Governors and magistrates with 
courtly retinues come this way; 
blutl' Thomas Dudley seeking a home 
h«re, with liis son-in-law, Simon 
Bradstreet, and his famous wife, 
Ann; Cotton and V/ilson and Roger 
Williams; the famous minisers of 
the olden time, stopping at eventitle 
to refresh themselves under Ward's 
hum'ole roof or at Rogers'ss more pre- 
tentious mansion; or with Hubhard 
or with the worshipful "Mister 
Saltonstall," in the intervals of his 
residence here, then took up their 
journey, and passed ou to the town 
beyond. Sabbath after Sabbath saw 
the yeomanry riding in, their horses 
keeping a decent Sabbath gait, their 
wives or daughters ou pillions, re- 



ADDRESS 



15 



gardless of suiuuier's heat or winter's 
cold, to worship (Jod in His House. 

Anou, there is the swift hoof-beat 
of the messenger in Sept. 1642, riding 
at top of speed with orders for the 
soldiery to march at once toward 
Haverhill and disarm Passecon- 
away; and more than once, I ween, 
at sound of the alarm gun, there was 
a rush of resolute men and pallid 
faced women hither and thither, for 
defence or for refuge. 

Tlien came the mid years of the 
century, when the terrors of Indian 
alarms were stilled awhile, but maay 
a sad scene of religious intolerance 
took place. The full virulence of 
Puritan hate was vented upon the 
hapless Quaker and from the 
court house or their prison on Meet- 
ing House Hill to the jail in iSalem 
or Jioston where they were to lan- 
gnisli, Josiah Soutliwick and Cassan- 
dra, and rtamuel Shattuck, (immor- 
talized in Whittier's verse,) were 
escorted past this spot, under guard 
and loaded with tlieir chains; or 
perchance even dragged at a cart's 
tail ignominiously and beaten on 
their bare backs until their life -blood 
crimsoned the duty road. 

Again the horrors of war were 
abroad when King Philip smote the 
tlie settlements with tire and steel, 
and Capt. Samuel Apple ton marched 
out with his company in September 
to win line renown for valiant courage 
ands!:illful leadership. He return- 
ed in November but early in Decem- 
ber he was again afield with his 
loyal company, for the peril and 
hardship of that winter campaign 
and the dreadful "Swamp Fight." 
Again and again there was a call for 



men, and squad after squad of Ips- 
wich citizens marched along our 
highway, now so peaceful, with 
heavy hearts, but high resolve to 
meet the wily foe; escorted perhaps, 
on either hand and close behind, by 
neighbors and friends cheering them 
on their way. 

And while the war was still wag- 
ing, the redoubtable Mogg, chief of 
the Indians to the Eastward, passed 
by in November 187fi on his way to 
Boston to arrange terms t'or a treaty 
of peace. With what mingled looks 
of bitter hate and trembling fright, 
was the savage gazed at from every 
window and all along our roadside. 
Happily he received good treat- 
ment. The son of Mr. Cobbett, the 
minister, was then a captive in 
Maine. The Indian went to Mr- 
Cobbett's house and promised his 
good offices in securing the son's 
release, which he eventually accom- 
plished. 

Again there is a lull in the sound of 
marching soldiery and jingling 
horse-troopers, but our old King's 
highway does not lack for travellers 
of highest interest. Sir Edmund 
Andros, the royal governor and Ar- 
bitrary despot, rode this way with 
gaily caparisoned escort — but re- 
turned, with pride humbled by the 
daring ill-treatment he had met. 
And a larger figure than Andros we 
will ever think, was the brave min- 
ister of Chebacco, John Wise, who 
rode by this spot as the afternoon 
wore on, on August 22, 1687, to meet 
a few choice spirits at John Apple- 
ton's and plan for their famous re- 
sistance to the tax on the following 

day. 



16 



ADDRESS 



Fair young Margaret Smith and 
her knightly company passed along, 
her face still pale, T imagine, from 
her fright at Mile River, where the 
sagamore caused her such alarm by 
his appearance. And Judge Samuel 
Sewall came and went on liis judi- 
cial rounds; and as the century drew 
to its close, there was frequent sight 
along this road, of innocent men and 
women, charged witli the heinous 
crime of witchcraft, who were hur- 
ried to Salem for trial and back to 
our jail for custody. Most notable of 
all, stern, defiant, old Giles Corey 
was seen amid the prisoners and 
having made his Avill in Ipswich 
jail, he was carried to Salem to en- 
dure his av/ful sentence of being 
pressed to death. 

One touch of the grotesque lights 
up the sombre annals of our beauti- 
ful old road, just as the new century 
came in. Wlieeled vehiclos were 
coming into vogue for travel and 
Cant. John Stevens, a sailor, perhaps 
freshly home from has voyage and 
eager for a sensation, wi*h Jane San- 
diinan as a conapanioii, presumed to 
ride through our tov.'u in a calash, 
on liis w.ay from Beverly to New- 
bury, on a fine Sabbath in May. 
For this '-prophanation of ye Sab- 
batli" he was summon-^d before the 
Ipswich Assize on May 19, 1702. In 
May 1707, there was a flasli of pol- 
i-hcd steel and brass, and the splen- 
dor of bright uniforms asths Ipswich, 
contingents marched by to join tlie 
expidition against Port Royal. 
Some of the first citizens rode at the 
head. Francis Wainwright was 
colonel, and Samuel Ai)i)letou, the 
younger, Vv'as Lieutenant Colonel of 



"the red regiment." Appleton was 
the only officer who won any honor 
in tiiat ill-starred campaign. 

The years slips by and now it is 
17i0, and on Monday, September 29. 
there is great expectancy of a distin- 
guished traveller, George Whitefield 
the great preacher. He came from 
Salem, escorted by two or three gen- 
tlemen wlio had gone to meet him, 
and stopped one night at. the Parson- 
age of Mr. Rogers. He preached at 
ten o'clock next day to a vast con- 
gregation, and our old street was 
crowded, I am sure with eager wor- 
shiopers, afoot and horseback, in 
calashes and tumbrils; families in 
clumsy farm wagons drawn by oxen ; 
the well-to-do in ruifs and ribbons, 
embroideries and laces, silks and 
velvets, powdered v/igs and all fem- 
inine elegancies; — the poor in home- 
spun and cheap finery. He returned 
on Saturday, preached again to a 
similar throng and in the afternoon 
rode tills way and on to Salem. 

That snhstanciai merchant of Kit- 
tery, William Pepporell, — somewhat 
awkward and constrained perhaps 
in his new role of coniniandcrr of the 
Colonial forces at Louisburg — came 
along the highway in 1715. Some of 
our ancient wise acres prophesied 
failure, no douljf, fcjr tise expedition- 
under such a strange leader, and 
grave forebodings of ill followed the 
gallant voluuteers who v.'ent to Jjt)s- 
ton to take passage. But wlien Sir 
William returned from his extraord- 
inary triumph, he was received 
v.'ith abounding honor. Civic and 
military escorts attended him all the 
way from J>ostoii to Kittery. ]5an- 
qiu^ts and fetes awaited- him every- 



ADDRESS 



17 



where. Our whole town caiiio over 
to School House Greeu, of course, to 
see the conqueror and his imposing 
retinue. His famous coach, with 
its gaily liveried driver and out- 
riders, wah a brilliant spectacle. 
Whenever Sir William had occasion 
to journey to and from Boston, and 
our townfolks came to know it well. 

In 1747 there was the sound of 
broad -axe and hammer, and a fam- 
ous gatherino- of the good folks who 
had Anally withdrawn from the old 
Parish, to raise the frame of the new 
meeting-house on the very spot 
where our granite slab stands Col. 
Thomas Berry, Physician and Mag- 
istrate, Col. John Choate, Thomas 
Norton the scholmaster, and many 
another prominent citizen, were here 
that very day, and the doors of Col. 
Choate's hospitable m-msion, in yon- 
der neighboring corner, were wide 
open in generous welcome. 

Some twelve years later a very 
sorry group came this way and 
passed on to their humble lodgings; 
an Acadian i)riest and hi^: company 
of exiles, part of that great number, 
who had been torn by violence from 
their happy homes in Nova Scotia; 
and who now had come in poverty 
and wretchedness, to eke out a live- 
lihood as best they might in this 
community. No sadder spectacle 
had been witnessed, I seem to feel, 
since the days of the witchcraft 
horror. 

And now we come to the alarms 
and fears and farewells of the days 
of '76. Tidings of the British 
march to Lexington were brought 
quickly, and the minute men, who 
had been in expectation of just such 



a call, quickly fell into line and 
marched away, Capt. Thomas Buru- 
ham at their head, to have their pait 
in the attiay. Two days later this 
neighborhood, and all the town 
were thrown into panic, by the 
rumor that the British regulars had 
lauded ou the Beach and were al- 
ready marching up towards the 
Town. The able-bodied men had 
gone to Lexington, and there was no 
hope or thought of resistance. All 
who were able fled for safety, or 
rushed up and down the rcnid, not 
knowuing what to do. Dr. Dana, 
looking out of his front door yonder, 
must have seen stirring sights; and 
many a trembling women in these 
old houses waited with terror the 
first drumbeat of the foe. Happily 
the report was false, but the tale 
spread onward, and the towns for 
leagues northward, and as far as Bev- 
erly on the south, were panic-struck 
with the report of ruthless slaughter 
in this town by the hated red coats. 
Many of the men of Ipswich j)ut on 
the Continental uniform in those 
dark days, and the sight of soldiers 
marching to the front, or coming 
home for furlough, or on discharge, 
or walking wearily worn with sick- 
ness or maimed by wounds, was sad- 
ly frequent. We point with pride 
still, to the goodly mansion of Na- 
thaniel Wade hard by. He vent at 
once to the front and did valiant 
service everywhere, and was hon- 
ored by Washington with especial 
confidence when Arnold went over 
to the British. 

Little did the Ipswich people think 
that Col. Benedict Arnold could be 
guilty of such baseness, for he was 



18 



ADDRESS 



held in especial honor in this vicin- 
ity, we may believe. 

In Sept, 1775, a detachment, con- 
sisting- of 1100 men, two battalions of 
musket-men and three companies of 
Riflemen, was placed under Arnold's 
command and despatched from 
Cambridge to Newburyport, there 
to take shipping for the JNIaine coast, 
to make an assault on Quebec. On 
Friday, Sept, 15, one detachment 
marched down this road and on to 
Newburyport. The battalion com- 
manded by Maj. R. J. Meigs followed 
a little behind and encamped at 
Rowley. The last companies arrived 
later and encamped in our town. 
That was an exciting day. Arnold, 
we may presume, led one of these 
battalions and was the hero of the 
hour. Daniel Morgan and his com- 
pany of Virginia Ritlemen excited 
the admiring gaze of all. A private 
soldier, marching in the ranks with 
gun and knapsack would haye been 
gazed at with pitiful curiosity, if Iiis 
future could have been known. He 
v/as Aaron Burr, and liis splendid 
valor before Quebec, and his illus- 
trieus services, in civic life, were to 
be overwhelmed in disastrous eclipse 
by his fatal duel with Alexander 
Hamilton, and his wretched old age. 

Again this thoroughfare is throng- 
ed with an eager company and 
Washington was received with 
boundless enthusiasm; and many a 
old soldier was here to greet him, as 
he passed into the neighboring hos- 
telry for his ent ertainment. Pesi- 
dentMunroe was welcomed in 1817, 
July 12, and in 1824 Gen. La Fayette 
made his triumphant entry in a 
pouring rain. JUit no rain could 



quench tlie enthusiasm of that day 
and the soldier received a royal 
greeting. One of the troopers who 
escorted him that day, JNlr. Aarou 
Kinsman, still survives, and the 
l^istol and sabre he carried are 
among the most treasured relics of 
our collection. 

The post rider of early days can- 
tered by witii his mail-bag thrown 
across his pommel. In later years 
came the stage coaches. On Wind- 
mill Hill the guard sounded Iiis horn 
and rigjit bravely tlie hurses dashed 
down the long slope and by tlie 
meeting house. 

Only one passenger by that con- 
veyance, out of all the multitude or 
travellers, rouses our especial inter- 
est; Daniel Webster, hurrying hither 
late at night, in April 1817, to make 
his masterful plea for ids old neigh- 
bor at Ipswich Court. The first 
whistle of the locomotive sounder 
the knell of the stage coach and all 
the romance attaching to that pict- 
uresque but tedious mode of travel, 
lives only in memory. So it is witli 
the training days on tlie Green, when 
booths for refreshment and fakir 
shows lined the street and with the 
ordinations and installations, which 
were occasions of similar note. 

But the Past still lingers in mem- 
ory and the glory of the earliest days 
is not eclipsed by the happenings of 
the present. These bright names 
inscribed upon our tablets are not 
dimmed by the lustre of any later 
fame. They need no memorial of 
stone or bronze to perpetutate their 
remembrance. We rear this tablet 
to show that we are grateful for the 



ADDRESS 



19 



rich legacy they have left us, of fiue 
manhood aud illustrioua deeds; that 
our children may learn the story of 
their lives and emulate their virtues ; 



aud that this spot, the place of their 
residence, may be honored and or- 
namented by this reminder of tJieir 
fair renown. 




Publications of the Ipswich Historical Society. 

IV 



ANNUAL MEETING 



OF THE 



Ipswich Historical Society 

AT THEIR ROO;\\S. 



Monday Evening', Dec. 7, 1896 



IPSWICH: 

INDEPENDENT BOOK AND JOB PRINT, 

1896. 



ipsuyi^|i |^i5TOi^i<5fiL SOCIE^sy. 



Annual Meeting, Dec. 7, 18%. President's Address. 
Treasurer's Report. 



The Ipswich Historical Society Tiie re|)ort of Tieasurer ,1. I. Ilor- 

hekl its aiimiai meeting- at tlie His- ton was as follows: 

torieal room Monday evenino-, Deo, Ipswich, Mass., Deo. 7, 1890. 

7tli. with a fair attendance of those Josejih 1. Ilorum, Treasurer, 

interested in the work. The reading In ac(;t. with the Ii>swich Historical 

of reports and the election of officers Society, 

for 18i)7 was the first business, and Di:. 

the ballot for the latter resulted as 'i\) anuimit of (lonations. iiu'inhcishi|) 

follows: (hies, etc.. *.')2().1« 

Pies., Kev. T. P^rank Waters. iu. 

Vice I'res., Hon. C. A. Sayward and IJy casii paid for tablet. ?<2.sl.t)() 

Hon. Fred Willcoml). " " " furnishing room l:i(».;^4 

Treas.. Joseph I. Ilorton. " '' " rent of room 7").0(i 

Rec. Sec, J. II. Cot^swell. " •' " incidentals, fuel 

Cor. Sec.,' Rev. Milo H. Gates. (deaning furniture, etc. 22.:'>7 

Librarian, M. V. B. Perley. By cash on hand 4..S7 

T!ie society was shown to be in 

excellent sliape to cominence the *520.is 

new year. 1896 has been prolific in Kespectfnlly submitted, 

good work, the opening of rooms, Joskph I. IIorto.n, Treas. 

setting of tablets, and the largely President Waters interesting,' and 

increased collections of antiquities, instructive address is given in full 

curios and historical documents. below: 

After the business of the evening On Friday evening, Feb. :5d, LSlXi, 

had been disposed of sevei'al of the tliis room was occupied bv the Society 

members present spoke entertain- for the first time. The exhibition 

ingly on old school days and old cases were then in place, but not quite 

masters. ready for use. Apart from the vahiable 



collection of manuscripts, which had heviner, as well as the indisputable 

been presented by Mr. 1). F. Appleton, remnants of an adult skeleton. If this 

the books from the same donor, and be so, we have a glimpse of an atro- 

the records of the Ipswich Female cious cannibalism, which had not been 

Seminarj, of the Ipswich Pamphlet suspected. 

Society organized in 1809, and the Ips- We hope that other contributions to 
wich Reading Room Ass^^ciation formed the archaeological department will soon 
in 1824, tlie society possessed nothing be made. The field of research is so 
for exhibition or safe keeping. extraordinaiily rich, that many indi- 
But it soon began to be evident that viduals have gradually accumulated 
the faith in its own future, which the an excellent collection. While in pri- 
Society had shown, had not been rni> vate hands these are likely to be scat- 
placed. One of the first donations was tered or lost, and they are of no 
from Mr. Benjamin Newman, a col- piactical value. In the possession of 
lection of Indian implements of un- the t-'ociety these collections may be 
usual delicacy of workmanship, which classified, kept securely, and exhibited, 
was speedily supplemented by a valu- and the total collection will come to 
able donation from Mrs. Dickinson, have unique value as the product of 
This department of the collection Avas this locality alone. 

put at once on a substantial foundation, In the department of Antiquities, by 
and the subsequent loan of imi)lements gift or loan, the Society has acquired a 
and beads from Mr. Richardson, of creditable exhibit. Here we find the 
Rowley, and the contributions of sinole spinning wheels and yarn reels, the 
objects by individuals have given it a great winnowing fan, the old cradle, 
size and (piality, that augurs well for the cheese press and tongs, Ur. Mjrfi- 
the future. Tlie collection of bones, ning's huge old mortar, the foot-stove, 
shells, etc., from the great shell heap candlemould and candlesticks, the lace 
on Treadvvell's island has been ]>illow, and the samples of lace wrought 
examined very carefully by Mr. Walter in the old lace factory on High street, 
Faxon of the Peabody Museum in Cam- the fragments from old houses, the bits 
bridge. lie is very desirous that the of nice needlework. These are the ob- 
bones and teeth be examined by an jects of popular intesest, which are 
expert and he thinks that the acc.i- gazed at eagerly by boys and girls, and 
rate identification of the ; nimaks and educate them in very practical fashion, 
birds, to which they belonged would This department of our collection ad- 
throw valuable light on the varieties of niits of indefinite expansion, and con- 
cach, common to this locality in the tiibutions aie solicited from the 
l>rehistoric period. He inclined to treasures that are hidden away in 
tliihk that there were fragments of a closets, and garrets, and out of the way 
<hild's skeleton, and a child's tooth nooks and corners, 
with a fragment of the jaw still ad- We invite the gift or loan of anti(ine 



chairs for the fiuuisliiuK of the room, roll of Capt. Dodge's company, and Col. 
Five have ah-eady come into our keep- Wade's orderly book, deserve mention, 
ins, 'J»t more are needed. Extreme Of documents of an earlier age, our 
modesty, we are ))ersuaded, prevents ancient petition of 1658 has found two 
many from offering some old bit of more ancient coni'>anions. By the 
furniture or bric-a-brac because it kindness of Mr. Robert C. Winthroj), of 
seems worthless. But many an article, Boston, our society has received an 
rescued from its hiding place, cleaned, autograph letter of John Winthrop 
repaired if need be, becomes useful and Jun,, the founder of our town, dated 
even valuable; in witness whereof, ob- Agawam, July 20,1634; and an inventory 
serve this admirable chest of drawers made by William Clerk of all the house- 
or bureau, but lately the occupant of hold goods in Mr. Winthrop's Ipswich 
an attic, now a thing of beauty and of residence. These are of the fust value 
service. Specimens of old family and give a high character to our manu- 
china, samplers and specimens of script collection. 

needlework, old lamps, cooking uten- No department of our exhibit 
sils of ancient pattern, tools of the possesses more quaint interest, and 
early times, are desired; and particn- none can be expanded with greater 
larly pewter porringers and platters to facility. Many old deeds, wills, ac- 
complete the collection, in which the count books and the like are in private 
late Mr. John Perkins was particularly hands. Mr. Everett Jewett, of the Vil- 
interested and to which he contributed lage, iias a very large collection, the 
so generously. life accumulation of Capt. Moses Jew- 

Our show case contains a miscella- ett, who lived from 1722 to 1796, and 
neons exhil)it, and illustrates the some of earlier date. Mr. Benjamin 
breadth of oui desires and the variety Fewkes has signified his intention of 
of interesting objects. The few auto- depositing a valuable collection of old 
graphs suggest to us the value of a Wade papers. Mr. John IJ. 

large collection of autographs of the Brown has recently given a 
eminent men of this town anc! of the valuable account book, with one 
country, and a companion collection of series beginning in 1678, and a second 
photographs or even silhouettes. A series by a later hand in the middle of 
few are already in our hands, but we the following century. Mrs. Philip 
hope for more. E. Clarke has deposited a 

Our collection of Pvcvolutionary and series of ancient Kinsman deeds. Some 
Confederate money is interesting, and of these old papers are so worn that 
the exhibit of fractional currency of they are already falling apart and they 
the Civil war period, thanks to the are likely to be ruined by the loss of 
loan of Mr. Richardson, and the gift of some of the pieces. Those in our pos- 
several parties, is of value. The Pvcvo- session have been mended and 
lutionary documents, especially the strengthened by strips on the backside, 



6 

and fastened with a flexible liinjje in a Journal, the Ipswich Register, the 
larse scrap book, so that they can be Ipswich Clarion and the Ipswich Bulle- 
exaniiiied withont possibility of injury, tin. Are there not other cojiies or par- 
Mr. Frank Lord lias deposited with tial files that may be added to these? 
us the complete records of the Deuison Graduation protjrammes, orders of 
Light Infantry. exercises of every kind, even of recent 

The nucleus of our library is the old date, anything of local interest, are 
Ipswich Religious Library, instituted solicited. Only lately I saw a remark- 
in ITl'l, ISome two hundred able collection of old printed broad- 
volumes, bearing tlie name of this sides, containing the dying confession 
organization, are on our shelves, and of Pomp, hanged for murder in 179.5, 
the secretary's and librarian's record, and similar gruesome relicts. How 
Some of these books date back to the many similar papers might be found? 
year 1647; some bear the autographs of They are all ustful and valuable in 
their owners. Rev John Rogers, 1700, their way. 

and his son, Rhv. Natlianiel Rogers, Pictures, too, are very acceptable, 

botli pastors of the First church. They This ancient panel tells its own story, 

are of the most substantial quality, of the busy davs of another century, 

sermons, tiieological and controversial The fine reprint of Trumouirs Bunker 

works, and meditations. Hardly a Hill was the gift of Mr. Elward Smith, 

volume would be read today, but the of Salem. The water coloi of the an- 

taste of the people of a century ago cient house by the depot cnnif^ from 

was so robust and serious, that these Mrs. Henry Saltonstall, of Boston, 

old books show much honest wear, and The portrait of Whitefield hangs' by 

the libraiian's record shows bow many right so near the si)ot where the great 

used them. Apart from tliese, and the preacher proclaimed the gospel a cen- 

volumes previously mentioned, our lit- tury and a half ago. Two ancient 

erary treasures are scant. But i)am- paintings brought from Italy by Mr. 

plilets of vaiious kinds are coming Leverett Treadwell many years ago 

more rapidly. Already we have quite have been deposited by Mrs. Ignatius 

a bundle of printed sermons of Ipswich Dodge. 

ministers, and of miscellaneous ser- On the day of the dedication of our 

mons yet more. There are many of tablets this room was formally opened 

quaint interest on a variety of themes, to the public. The permanent dejiosits, 

Let us have more and more of these which had been secured at that time, 

old musty pamphlets, and the more were supplemented by a considerable 

modern ones as well. We have a be- loan collection, and many of our towns- 

ginirlng of a file of School Reports and folks and many visitors from abroad 

of Town Reports. Let these be made visited the room during tlie day. Since 

complete. We have a few old news- then the room has been opened to the 

])apers, stray copies of the Ipswich public every Saturday afternoon. The 



visitors' book shows an average num- to elect tax commissioners at the com- 
ber of about twenty-five or thirty visi- mand of Sir Edmuml Andros, and won 
tors. Interest in the exhibit is growing by its bold act, and by the penalty it paid 
apace, and we may confidently hope for its boldness, a proud name among 
that when summer comes again, our Massachusetts towns, and made a 
room will become an object of general spendid contribution to the series of 
interest and popular pride. protests against taxation Without 

The one event of tlie year, which lias representation, which began at Water- 
given our society standing and character town in the infancy of the colony, and 
amid the numerous local societies that culminated in the universal determina- 
are springing up all around us, was the tion to resist the Stamp Act and in the 
erection of the substantial memorial War of the Revolution, 
tablets on the South Green. Xo more Here sat the Courts for many years, 
conspicuous and plea.^ing location until the Court House was built. Here 
could be found. It rarely happens that were the stocks, and whiuping post, 
so many memories of the past, reach- watch house and prison. Here honest 
ing over so long a period in the annals Quakei's and good men and women, 
of a community yet familiar to but few, charged with witchcraft, were impri- 
cluster about a spot, alreadj' so atcrac- soned among the criminals suffering 
tive by its great natural beauty. We righteous punishment, 
may well congratulate ourselves that It remains for our society, or some 
we have rescued from (iblivion a group generous and patriotic friend of 'the 
of historic facts of the highest interest, society to make a move toward erect- 
and given them permanent prominence, ing on this historic spot a fitting 

May we not venture to hope and memorial. The year 1897 is the 210th 
plan for the erection of another memo- anniversary of the Andros fiesistance. 
rial at no distant day? The rugged The town miglit cooperate with us. 
summit of Town Hill, where the First Have we faith enough in the success of 
church stands today, is the one spot of the enterprise to begin to plan to that 
transcendent interest in the brilliant end? If this project seems too ambi- 
history of our ancient town. Here the tious, lesser memorials to commemo- 
first humble meeting house was reared, rate the residence among us of Dud- 
guarded by its fort, and watched by ley, and Ann Bradstreet, and Winthrop 
sentries, and saccessive meeting houses and Denison, may perhaps be under- 
have hallowed the spot through all the taken. 

years of the past. Here in the old Apart from these schemes of a pub- 
church the people assembled in town lie nature, our Society needs funds for 
meetings to make their own laws, and the legitimate work that awaits it. 
rule themselves in orderly fashion ; and The running expenses of the coming 
here, was held that memorable town year call for an hundred and fifty dol- 
meeting of 1687, when the town refused lars at least. Money is needed for tlie 



8 

purcliase of books, not found in our the maintenance of the Society and thp 

pnl)lic library, which shed light on the furtherance of its worlc. We desire to 

history of our town. It is desirable ^^^^j ^ ^^.^^^.^^^ enthusiasm among our 
that some publication be made of its 

,. ^ ., . . members and throughout the commu- 

ovvn proceedings or of tlie manuscripts ^ 

and records in its possessions. We in- ^'ty. We can succeed only by the 

vite all our citizens to share with us in constant cooperation of many friends. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



The following is the report of the which was largely attended. The 

Corresponding Secretary, J. H. Cogs- president stated the needs of the Socie- 

well, read at the annual meeting of the ^^ ^^^. ^ ^ Appleton, who was pies- 
Ipswich Historical Society Dec. 7: 

i.r> 4-1 „ • rn i^..i r A 1 ent, was very enthusiastic in the mat- 

'•On the evening of the 14th of April, ' "^ 

1890, a little company met at the home ter, and strongly advised securing a 

of jMr. Waters and organized what is room for the use of the Society. At 

now the Ipswich Historical Society, his suggestion Messrs. Waters, Say- 

During the first four years of the ward, Gates and Constant were made a 

organization meetings were occasional- committee to secure a room suitable 

ly held at the studio of Arthur W. for the purpose. It was also voted that 

Dow in the Caldwell block, and at the an annual assessment of two dollars be 

vestiy of the South church. These required of each member of the 

meetings were addressed mainly by Society, and $101 was pledged on the 

our own citizens, Messrs. Waters, Say- spot. 

ward and Dow, frequently speaking At the next meeting, held Monday 

upon matters of local interest, On evening, Oct 21st, it was reported that 

several occasions, however, we listened a room in the Odd Fellows' building 

to parties from abroad, among whom could be secured, and the committee 

were Hon. W. D. Northend and W. S. were given full power to hire and fit it 

Xevins, of Salem, the former on the up for the accommodation of the 

"Bay State Colony," ana the latter on Society. At this meeting the president 

"Nathaniel Hawthorne." read an exceedingly interesting paper 

It was not. however, until Sept. 30. upon military affairs in the earliest 

1S!)5, that the Society entered upon its times, showing that Ipswich took a 

work in real earnest. On that date a very prominent part in the military 

meeting was held at the Parish House, achievements of the first half century. 



furnishing the two grent learlers, Doni- between England and France for the 
son and Appleton. possession of Nova Sootia and the 

At the next meeting of the Society, events which led to the forcible re- 
Nov. 19, a code of by-laws were moval of the Acadians from their 
adopted, and Jesse Fewkes, of Xewton, homes in that country, lie also gave 
(a native r,f our town), read an inter- an account of the arrival of a number 
esting paper u^on the "Evidence of of them in this town, and of their kind 
the occupation of our shores by the treatment while here. 
Norsemen in the eleventh century. "" The next and in many respects the 

At this meeting the corresponding most important meeting of tlie year 
secretary read a letter from Kev. Mr. was held at the Parish House, ^larch 
Bodge, of Leominster, stating that he 18, when Dr. A. V. Putnam, of Dauvers, 
would be pleased to deliver his lecture gave his lecture upon "Pecollections 
on Samuel Appleton before the Histor- of distinguished persons at home and 
ical Society sometime during the win- abroad." Dr. Putnam is a beautiful 
ter. As this lecture was not given last speakei- and his personal reminiscences 
winter, it is hoped we may be fav( red of Lincoln, Webster. Sumner, <Iranr 
with it during the present. and others whose names have become 

The next meeting of the Society was historic in our own country, as well as 
held in this room Jan. 3, 1896. A good Lord Palmerston and other statesmen 
number was present. The president in PZngland, the nobility of Germanv 
read an exceedingly interesting paper and the men of mark in Italy and 
upon the History of the Probate Build- France, were intensely interesting and 
ing and its surroundings, followed by held every hearer from start to finish. 
M. V. B. Perley with a poem noon the At the close of the lecture the presi- 
"Lost Arts," which was much appre- dent announced that Francis R. Apple- 
ciated. ton had asked the privilege of giving a 

Feb. 10, the Society held a meeting tablet to be erected upon the South 
at the Parish House and listened to a Common in memory of historic men, 
very fine address from Ezra D. Hines. and events of the earlv days. This 
Esq., of Danvers, on "The march of generous offer of Mr. Appleton was 
Arnold from Cambridge to Quebec." most thoroughly appreciated as the 
Mr. Hines is an easy, graceful speaker Society had long desired to erect such 
and held the attention of the audience a tablet. AVork was immediately corn- 
very closely, menced upon the tablet and on 

The next meeting of the Society was Wednesday, July 29, the exercises in- 
at its room March 27, and was ad- cident to its unveiling was held on the 
dressed by Hon. C. A. Sayward on "The Green ui front of the South chuich, 
Acadians in Ipswich," in which lie wnich every one declared to be a "Pied 
gave a careful summary of the contest Letter Day" for old Ipswiih. 



7 



MEMBERS 



OF THE 



Ipswich Historical Society, 

FEBRUARY, 1897. 



T>. Fuller Appleton 

Francis H. Appleton 

Randolpli S. Appleton 

Dr. C. E. Ame3 

John A. Blake 

John E. Blakemore, Boston 

James W. Bond 

Warren Boynton 

John B. Brown 

Chas. S. Brown 

Mrs. William G. Browa 

Daniel S. Burnham 

Rev, Augustine Caldwell, Eliot, 

Chas. A. Campbell 

Philip E. Clarke 

Miss L. C. Coburn 

John H. Cogswell 

Theodore F. Cogswell 

Eev. Edward Constant 

Chas. S. Cummings 

George K. Dodge 
Miss Bertha Dobson 
Rev. George F. Durgin 

Rev. Milo H. Gates 
John W. Goodhue 
Mrs. George H. Green 
Miss Lucy Hamliu 
Mrs. John Heard 
Joseph I. Horton 



Me 



Lewis R. Hovey 

John A. Johnson 

Charles N. Kelly 

Rev. John C. Kimball 

Miss Carrie E. Lakeman 

Curtis E. Lakeman 

^liss Lucy S. Lord 

Thomas Lord 

Dr. George E. Macarthy 

James F. Mann 

Jolin P. Marston 

Everard H. Martin 

lAIrs. E. H. Martin 

John W. I^ourse 

Martin V. B. Perley 

Augustine IL Pioutf 

Jas. E. Richardson, Rowley 

Joseph Ross 

Joseph F. Ross 

Fred G. Ross. 

William S. Russell 

Angus L. Savory 

Chas. A. Say ward 

George A. Schofield 

Edward A. Smith, Salem 

John E. Tenney 

Mrs. J. E. Tenney 

Miss Ellen Trask 

Bayard Tuckerman 



y 



Luther Wait Mrs. Chas. IT. Wildmerding, Chicago 

Henry C. AVarner HONORARY MEMBERS. 

Rev. T. Frank Waters q^,^ (.,,.^s ^y Darlin-, Utica, X Y 

Fred A. Willcoinb W. Sumner Appleton, Boston 

Wallace P. Willett, East Orange, N J Jesse Fewkes, Newton 



#> 



*, 



BY-LAWS. 



I. is eligible for lionorary membership. 

This Society shall be called the Every person elected an honorary 

Ipswich Historical Society. member shall become such by 

-,, signifying acceptance to the Hecord- 

mi !-• i. * i.1 ' o • i. 4. ing Secretary, in Avriting. 

The objects of the Society are to =■ •^' * 

investigate, record and perpetuate ^^• 

the history of the town of Ipswich, Any donor to tiie funds of the 
and to collect, hold and preserve Si>ciety to tlie amount of twenty-five 
documents, books, relics and all dollars may be elected a life mem- 
other matter illustrating its history, ber, and shall be exempt from tlie 
or that of individuals or families payment of the annuil fee. 
identified with it. ' VII. 

Ill' Every resident member shall pay 

The Society shall be composed of an annual fee of two dollars, wliich 
rfsid en t, honorary and life members; sh \\\ he due on t lie first of December, 
and all the members sliall have the an I failure to pay tiiis fee for two 
right to attend all meetings, and to ye irsshall forfeitmembership unless 
enjoy full use of the historical col- the Directors sliall direct otherwise, 
lections of tlie society, subject to the VIII. 

ordinary regulations, but the man- ^^ ^^^^^^^ meetin^for the election 
agement and disposal of the Society's ^f^^^^,.gg,,^,„^^^,;^l J ^^^ j,,^ ^^.^^ 
affairsand property, and the right to j^^^,,^,^,^ ^^. j,ecemb.r and regular 
vote shall belong only to resident ^^^^i.^^^ „„ t,,e first Monday of 
and life members. ^ Februarv, May and October. Special 

I^'^' meetings may be held on tiie call of 

All members shall be nominated the directors. Due notice of all 
by the Directors and shall be elected meetings shall be given by the 
by ballot at any regular meeting by Recording Secretary. 
a majority of the votes cast. ^^ 

V. The officers ef the Society shall be 

Any member of kindred societies, a President, two Vice-Presidents, a 

and any person, who lias especial in- Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, a 

terest in the objects of the Society, or Corresponding Secretary and a 

who has rendered it valuable service Librarian, and they shall form col- 



lectively a T3oarcl of Directors. These to promote the especfal objects of 

ofKcers shall be elected by ballot at tlie Society In such w;iys as may 

the annual meeting, and their term seem most appropriate, shall appoint 

of office shall be for one year from such committees as may seem ex- 

the date of that meeting-, and until pedient, and shall have the charge 

their successors are elected. Vacan- and custody of all the property and 

cies in t!)e lioartl of Diiectors shall collections of the Society, 

be filled for the remainder of the XI. 

year by the remaining- Directors. ^,^^gg bv-laws mav be amended at 

ThedMtiesofall theseofficersshall .^..^ ,.^^.^,,^„. i^eeting or the annual 

be those usually belonging to offices ^.^eeting, on recommendation of the 

they hold. Directois, by a vote of two thirds of 

^' the members present, provided that 

The Directors shall determine the due notice has been given of the 

use lo be nnule uf the income and proposed change at a previous 

funds of the Society, sliall endeavor meeting. 



4^ 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE IPSWICH 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

V. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS 



AND 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 



WITH 



THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING 



Dec. 6, 1897. 



A List of Contributors to the Cabinet. 



Salem prese. 

The Salem Press Co., Salem, Mass. 

1898. 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE IPSWICH 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

V. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS 



AND 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 



WITH 



THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING 



Dec. 6, 1897. 



A List of Contributors to the Cabinet. 



Salem ipresa. 
The Salem Press Co., Salem, Mass. 

I8g8. 



Fit 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 



[A paper read, March 6, 1897, before the Local History Class of the 
Essex Institute.] 

BY THOMAS FRANKLIN WATERS. 



THE HOUSES. 

Peculiar pathos attaches to the landing of the Pil- 
grims at Plymouth, when winter was already abroad, their 
hasty building of their huml>le homes, and the prolonged 
suffering from cold, scant food, and sickness until summer 
came. But the settlement of the towns of the Massachu- 
setts Bay Colony, Salem, Ipswich, and the rest, presents 
no such pitiful picture. To these points came an orderly 
migration of gentle folk and artisans, direct from their 
comfortable English homes, with much of their belong- 
ings, no doubt. The arrival of the ships that bore them 
was timed so well that they came upon our coast when 
the air was sweet with flowers and the fi'agrance of the 
wild strawberries. The long days of summer afforded 
them opportunity for building comfortable homes, and 
settling themselves into their new life, before the ordeal 
of winter came. In our thoughtlessness we banish hard- 
ship and suffering from the annals of this fortunate 
colony. 

We are encouraged in this rosy dream of the first days 
by the reputed antiquity of many houses still remaining, 
wearing an air of comfort still, with their low, broad 
roofs, their huge chimney-stacks, suggestive of generous 

(3) 



4 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

fire-places within, tlioir small windows, planned to admit 
a snfficiency of light and a modicum of cold, and their 
ample size. These ancient mansions, we are told, date 
from the very earliest years of the settlement, perchance 
even from the year of the founding of the town, and 
accepting the date with confiding credulity, straightway 
we buikl many similar edifices in our imagination, and 
house the daring pioneers very luxuriously. 

The "striking incongruity of such mansions as these, and 
the rough pioneer life in the unbroken wilderness, shonld 
be enough to make us ske[)tical. Any careful study of 
the historic data will effectually disprove the truth of this 
claim of age. No loss than five ancient dwellings in old 
Ipswich have been declared l)y many to date from KJoS 
or 1634. I have made ddigent research in our Town 
Records and at the Registry of Deeds and Wills, and have 
come to the conclusion that two of them were built about 
1700, the third about 1670-1(580, and in the case of the 
two others the disproval of the reputed ownership re- 
moves the presumption' of an antiquity which is not sug- 
gested by their architecture. 

We shall make much nearer approach to the truth in 
our ideal, we may presume, if we remember always that 
our forefathers were invading a wilderness, and that of 
necessity their first houses were small, rude, and quickly 
built, so that they might give their first summer chiefly to 
clearing the land of forest, and raising some crop to fur- 
nish their food for the long, cold winter. 

Edward Johnson, in his "Wonder Working Provi- 
dence," portrays the experiences that he had known 
personally, incident to these settlements. " After they have 
found out a place of aboad," he writes, "they burrow 
themselves in the earth for their first shelter, under some 
hill side, casting the earth aloft upon timber ; they make 
a smoaky fire against the earth at the highest side, and 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 5 

thus these poor servants of Christ provide shelter for 
themselves, their wives and little ones, keeping off the 
short siiowcrs from tlioir lodgings, but the long rains pen- 
etrate through to their grate disturbance in the night sea- 
son, yet in these poor wigwams they sing Psalms, pray, 
and praise their God, till they can provide them homes, 
which ordinarily was not wont to be with many till the 
Karth, l)y the Lord's blessing, brought forth bread to feed 
them, their wives and little ones." 

Such a tale of woe may seem incredible to us. The 
skilled woodsman can build a summer camp impervious to 
rain, and full of comfort, in a few hours, with no other 
tool than his axe. I have a pleasant acquaintance with a 
Kangeley guide of long experience, who always amazes me 
with stories of the facility with which a warm and com- 
fortable camp can bo fashioned in the deep snow in the 
thick forests, when the cold is intense, and of the palatial 
comfort of the log-camp, chinked with moss, covered 
deeply with snow and warmed with a roaring fire. 

But these .-mcient Puritans were not woodsmen. They 
were gentlemen in part, and weavers, tailors, blacksmiths, 
coopers, brickmakers, carpenters and farmers. What 
knew they of the cunning art of woodcraft? So, I trow, 
that not only their dug-out in the hill-side, but often 
their humble cabin, was not sufficient for comfortable 
warmth. Such was the experience of the Deputy Gov- 
ernor Thomas Dudley, who wrote from Cambridge in 
1G30. " 1 thought fit to conunit to memory our present 
condition, and what hath befallen us since our arrival 
here, which I will do shortly, after my usual manner, 
and must do rudely, having yet no table, nor other room 
to write in than by the fireside, upon my knee, in this 
sharp winter, to which my family must have leave to re- 
sort though they break good maimers, and make me many 
times t\)rg('t what I would say, and say what I would not." 



6 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

If there was such scant comfort in the homes of their 
gentry, what was the lot of the poorest? Rough, simple 
houses, they must have been. There were no mills to 
saw their lumber. Every board was sawed by the tedious 
toil of two sawyers, one working in a saw pit. Every 
joist was hewed four square with the axe, every nail, bolt, 
hinge and latch, was hammered out by the blacksmith on 
his anvil. Brick chimneys and shingled roofs were rare. 

Our surmise as to the style of their dwelling is con- 
firmed by indubitable record. Matthew Whipple lived 
on the corner of the present County and Summer streets, 
in Ipswich, near Miss Sarah Caldwell's present residence. 
In the inventory of his estate made in 1645, his dwelling 
house, barn and four acres of land, were appraised at 
£36, and six bullocks were valued at the same figure. 
His executors sold the dwelling with an acre of ground 
on the corner, in 1648, to Robert Whitman for £5. 
Whitman sold this property, and another house and lot, to 
William Duglass, cooper, for £22, in 1652. John Anni- 
ball, or Annable, bought the dwelling, barn, and two 
acres of land, on the eastern corner of Market and Sinn- 
mer streets, then called Annable's Lane, for £39, in 1647. 
Joseph Morse was a man of wealth and social standing. 
His inventory in 1646 mentions a house, land, etc., valued 
at £9, and another old house with barn and eight acres of 
land valued at £8, 10s. and one cow and a heifer, esti- 
mated at £6, 10s. Thomas Firman was a leading citizen. 
His house was appraised in the inventory at £15, and the 
house he had bought of John Proctor, with three acres of 
land, was estimated to be worth £18, 10s. Proctor's house 
was near the lower falls on County street, and his land in- 
cluded the estate now owned by Mr. Warren Boynton, 
Mr. Samuel N. Baker and others. Few deeds of sale or 
inventories mention houses of any considerable value in 
these earlier years. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 7 

Richard Scolieltl sold a liouse and two acres of laud to 
Robert Roberts, in 1643, for £11, 17s. In 1649 John 
West sold John Woodman, for £13, a house and an acre 
of land, and another half acre near the Meeting House. 
Robert Whitman sold John Woodman a house near the 
Meeting House, for £7. In 1652, Richard Scotield, 
leather dresser, sold Moses Pengry, yeoman, a house and 
land, for £17, and Solomon Martin sold Thomas Lovell, 
currier, a house and lot near the present " Dodge's Corner," 
for £16. Barely in these opening years, the appraised 
value of an estate mounted to £100. In 1646, this was 
the valuation of John Shatswell's. It included a "house, 
homestead, barn, cow house, orchard, yard, etc." Six 
oxen were appraised at £36, and five cows at £25, Os. 
The average price received from the actual sale of houses 
was less than £25. Mr. John Whittinghara had a house 
on High street containing kitchen and parlor, and cham- 
bers over the kitchen and parlor, sumptuously furnished, 
as the inventory records in 1648, and valued with the barn, 
cow house and forty-four acres of land, at £100. 

The established value of a bullock seems to have been 
£6, and cows were appraised at about £5. A day's work 
of a team in drawing timber for the watch house, in 1645, 
was reckoned at 8 shillings, and in 1646, the inventory of 
the estate of Joseph Morse reveals the market prices of 
various commodities. 

20 bushels of Indian corn were rated at £2, 10s. 
^ bushel of hemp seede, - - - 2 
6 small cheeses, 2 

20 lbs. butter, ----- . 10 

These prices fix the purchasing power of money at that 
period and make it certain that houses, that were quoted 
at £25 and less, were very simple and primitive. 

Often, we may presume, they were log-houses. 



8 THE EARLY HOMES Or THE PURITANS. 

Govevnov Winth.op .ecovds that M.. OUUum had a s^aU 
house near the wear at Watertown, made all ot clap 
b :<ls. In his diary, under date of 1646 1- »»;-- 
•. dreadful tempest at N. E. with wmd and -" ■ » ^J^^ 
the lady Moodye her house at Salem, beu.g but one story 

height, and'a flat roof with a '">* «l""-y - 
midst, had the roof taken off in two parts (w.tl. the top 
of the chimney) and carried six or seven rods off 

Thatch was the common roof covering, and he chm 
nevs were built of wood, well covered or daubed as 
Z phrase was, with clay. Governor Winthropment.on 
that Mr. Sharp's house in Boston took fire, in 1630 (he 
splinters being not clayed at the top) and tatang the 
thatch burnt it down." Governor Dudley's account of 
the fir'e speaks of this and Colborn's house "as good and 
well furnished as most in the plantation." 

Better houses began to be built at an "-^^JJ^f 
Winthrop records a violent S. S. E. storm on Ma ch 16 
1638 "It overthrew some new strong houses, hut the 
Lord miraculously preserved old weak cottages." 

Thomas Lechford, in his Note Book, preserves an mte, 
esting contract, made by John D^^'' J"-"'''-;'; '^^f^/^ 
,>ous: for William Ri.x, in 1640., it was '» !> , «^^°_;^ 
long and 14 feet wide, Wth a chamber ttoare fi"-,l> . snm 
mer and joysts, a cellar floare with joysts hn.sh t, the 
Toofe and walls clapboarded on the out syde, the chnnney 
filled without daubing, to be done with hewan timber. 
The price was to be £21. 

Houses of this dimension were common as late as 
1665 In that year such inroads had been made upon the 
i:,:s'and other'valuable trees, that the T-- of Ipsw.h 
ordered the Selectmen to issue a permit before a tiee 
could be cut. The certificates issued possess a curious 
interest. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. U 

Edmund Bridges Avas allowed timber "to make up liis 
cellar," in 1667. In 1670, Joseph Goodhue received 
permit for a house 18 feet square, and Ephraim Fellows 
for a house 16 feet square. In 1671, Thomas Burnam's 
new house was 20 feet square, that of Obadiah Bridges 
18 feet square, and Deacon Goodhue built one 16 feet 
square. In 1657, Alexander Knight, a helpless pauper, 
was provided with a house at the Town's expense, and 
the vote provided that it should be 16 feet long, 12 
feet wide, 7 or 8 feet stud, with thatched roof, for which 
£6 was appropriated. 

People of quality erected comfortable houses, no doubt, 
at a very early period. In 1638, Deputy Governor 
Symonds purchased the Argilla farm now owned by the 
heirs of the late Thomas Brown, and straightway planned 
the house, which was erected at once on the site still to be 
traced, not far from the present farm house. Such interest 
attaches to the explicit directions he gave Mr. Winthrop 
in a letter which remains to us, that I cannot forbear 
transcribing his exact words. 

"I am indifferent wlietlier it be 30 foote or 35 foote longe; 16 or 
18 foote broade. I would have wood chimnyes at each end, the 
frames of the chimnyes to be stronger than ordinary, to beare good 
heavy load of clay for security against fire. You may let the chim- 
nyes be all the breadth of the liowse if you thinke good ; the 2 lower 
dores to be in the middle of the howse, one opposite to the other. 
Be sure that all the dore waies in every place be soe high that any 
man may goe vpright vnder. The staiers I think had best be placed 
close by the dore. It makes noe great matter though there be noe 
particion upon the first flore; if there be, make one biger then the 
other. For windowes let them not be over large in any rooms and as 
few as conveniently may be ; let all have current shutting draw win- 
dows, haveing respect both to present & future vse. I think to 
make it a girt house will make it more chargeable tlien neede ; how- 
ever, the side bearers for the second story being to be loaden with 
corne etc. must not be pinned on, but rather eyther lett in to the 
studds or borne vp with false studds and soetenented in at the ends. 
I leave it to you and the carpenters. In this story over the first, I 



\0 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

would have a particion, whether in the uiiddest or over the particiou 
under, I leave it. ^ , ^^^ 

In the san-ett noe particion, but let there be one or two Income 
[Lutheran?] windows, if two, both on .me side. I desire to have 
the sparrs reach downe pretty deep at the eves to preserve the walls 
the better from the wether. I would have it sellered all over and 
soe the frame of the howse accordeingly from the bottom. 1 would 
have the howse stron^e in timber, though plaine & well ^^^ased. I 
wonld have it covered with very good oake-hart inch board for the 
present, to be tacked on onely for the present, as you ton d me Let 
the frame begin from the bottom of the cellar & soe in the ordinary 
way vpright: for I can hereafter (to save the timber within grounde) 
run up a thin brick worke without. I think it best to have the walls 
without to be all clap boarded besides the clay walls. 

This stoutly built two-storied house, with its enormous 
fireplaces, iis wiilo as the rooms, and its projecting eaves, 
nmst have been both picturesque and comfortable, though 
the interior arrangement was very simple. We can 
hardly believe that houses of this size and style were 
comnion at this period, though Rev. Natlmiuel Rogers's 
nia.ise, facing the South Green, had two full stories, and 
so h:ul Mr. Whittingham'8 on High street. For the most 
part, these old Ipswich houses were small and rough in 
outward appearance, and the best and stateliest, innocent 
of paint, with small windows and diamond-shaped panes 
of class, daubed with clay instead of plaster, were iar 
rentoved from the most ancient style, with which we are 

familiar. 

Here is a contract for the building of a pretty comfort- 
able parsonage-house, in Beverly, "for the use of the 
ministrie on Cap An Side," as the record says, and the 
date of it is the 23 : of March, 1G5G-1G57. 

The psents witnesseth a bargain maid betweene John norman of 
manchester the one partie : & Tho Lothrop & James patch the other 
ptves for & in consideration of an house: that is to say. John 
uormanis to build an house for them: which is to be thirtieeyght 
foote lono-e : 17 : f oote wide & a leueu foote studd, with three chimnies 



TiiK ea!;ly homes of the puritans. 11 

towe below & one in the chamber he is also to flnde boards & clap- 
boards for the finishing the same with a single couering with a porch 
of eight foote square & Jotted oner one foote ech way to lap the 
floores booth below & a bone & one garret chamber : & to make doores 
and windows : foure below and foure aboue & one in the stodie the 
said John is to make the stoaires & to drawe the clapboards & shoot 
their edges: & also to smooth the boards of one of the chamber 
flowres & he is to bring up the frame to the barre or the ferry att his 
owne charge. 

& the said John norman is to haue for his worke f ourtie flue pounds : 
to be paid in come & cattell the one halfe att or before the house be 
raised & the other halve the next wheate haruist. 

in witncssc heare of we haue sett down our hands, 
wituesse John norman 

Tho : Lothropp. 



A STUDY OF INTERIORS. 

Within, these homes were for the most part very plain 
and simple. Governor Dudley's house in Cambridge 
was reputed to be over-elegant, so that Governor Win- 
throp wrote him : " He did not well to bestow such cost 
about wainscotting and adorning his house, in the bogin- 
ing of a plantation, both in regard to the expense and 
the example. " But^Dwlley was able to reply, that "it 
was for the warmth of his house, and the charge was 
but little, being but clap-boards, nailed to the wall in the 
form of wainscot. " The common finish of the rooms of 
houses of the l)ctter sort was a coating of clay, over the 
frame tinVbers and the l)ricks which filled the spaces be- 
tween the studs. The ceilings were frequently, if not 
universally, left unfinished, and the rough, uiipainted 
beams and floor joists, and the flooring of the room 
above, blackened with the smoke and grimy Avith dust, 
were a sombre contrast to the white ceilings of the 
modern home. The living room of the ancient house of 
the Whipples, probably the oldest in our town, was not 



12 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

lathed and plastered overhead until the boyhood of the 
present owner, yet the finely panelled wood-work of the 
side walls attests the excellence of the interior in its day. 
Paint and paper were unknown. Even whitewash was 
an invention of far later times. 

Nevertheless, I incline to believe that if we could turn 
back the wheels of time and enter an early Ipswich 
home, we should find that it was not only habitable, but 
comfortable, and the furnishings much ])eyond our antic- 
ipation. For these yeomen and carpenters and weavers 
very likely had transported some of their furniture across 
.the sea, and they reproduced here in the wilderness the 
living rooms of their old English homes. 

Happily our curiosity may be gratified in very large 
degree l)y the numerous inventories that remain, and we 
may in imagin-ation undertake a tour of calls in the old 
town, and see for ourselves what those houses contained. 
There were but two rooms on the main iloor, the "hall" 
and the parlor, and entrance to them was made from 
the entry in the middle of the house. The "hall" of the 
old Puritan house, was the "kitchen" of a little later 
times. Indeed, these two words are used of the same 
apartment from the earliest record. It was the living 
room, the room where they cooked and ate and wrought 
and sat ; in one home at least, that of Joseph Morse, a 
well-to-do settler, the room Avhere his bed was set up, 
wherein he died in 1646. 

The chief object in this family room was ever the fire- 
place, with its broad and generous hearth and chimney, 
ample enough to allow boys bent on mischief to drop a 
live calf from the roof, as they did one night, into poor 
old Mark Quilter's kitchen. As brick chimneys were not 
the rule at first, safety could be secured only by building 
their wooden chimneys, daubed with clay, abnormally 



THE EAKLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS, 13 

large. No wonder the worthy folk who wrote those inven- 
tories invariably began with the fireplace and its appur- 
tenances. Piled high with logs, roaring and snapping, 
it sent forth most comfortable heat, and cast a warm 
glow over the plainest interior, and beautified the hum- 
blest home. " Here is good living for those that love 
good fires," Pastor Higginson wrote. Bare walls, rough, 
unfinished ceilings, floors without carpets or rugs, all took 
on an humble grace ; privation and loneliness and home- 
sickness could be forgotten, in the rich glow of the even- 
ing firelight. 

Several pairs of andirons or cobirons were frequently 
used to support logs of different lengths. In one hall, at 
least, two pair of cobirons, and a third pair ornamented 
with brasses are mentioned. Within easy reach, were the 
bellows and tongs, the fire-pan for carrying hot coals, the 
"fire-fork" and ''fire-iron, " for use about the hearth, we 
presume. 

Over the fire hung the trammel or coltrell, as it is 
called in one inventory, pot hooks, from the wooden or 
iron bar within the chimney that was supplanted by the 
crane in later times, and pots and kettles of copper, brass 
or iron, and of sizes, various. Some of these kettles must 
have been of prodigious size. Matthew Whipple had 
three brass pots that weighed sixty-eight pounds, and a 
copper that weighed forty pounds. The rich John Whit- 
tingham's kitchen, in his High street home, boasted a 
copper that was worth £3 10s, and Mr. Nelson of Eowley 
had "a great copper " that was inventoried at £10 sterling. 
The family washing, soap-making, candle-dipping and 
daily cookery, no doubt, required them all. 

A copper baking-pan, a great brass pan, spits for roasts, 
iron dripping pans to catch the juices, gridirons and fry- 
ing-pans, an iron peele or shovel for the brick oven, a 



14 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

trivet (a three-legged support for hot pans or pots, or 
irons), and the indispensable warming-pan, were common 
appendages of this central orb. 

Lesser articles — skimmers, skillets and ladles, chafing 
dishes and posnets, smoothing irons and ])ox irons that 
were heated from within, and sieves covered with hair- 
cloth or tiffany, were found as well. Upon the open 
shelves stood the rows of pewter plates or platters, and 
latten or brass ware, all bright and shining in the fire 
light, and upon nails, 

" The porringers that iu a row 
Hung high and made a glittering show." 

Trenchers and trays and platters of wood were still com- 
mon ; "juggs"and leather bottles found place. Pewter 
salts, pots, bottles, spoons, cups and flagons, candlesticks 
of pewter or iron, spoons of silver or ^' alchimie," an alloy 
of brass, were common. 

The dresser or cupboard or shelf l)ore the l)ooks that 
were found in almost every family : " the great Bible" and 
smaller Bibles, the Psalm book, some sad volumes of 
Doctor Preston's or Mr. Dike's or Doctor Bifield's theo- 
logical writings, the "physike book" in one instance, and 
the silver l)Owl, or other cherished remnant of former 
luxury . 

For furniture, there were tables and frames on which 
boards were laid and removed, forms or long settees, 
stools and cushions, but only a chair or two, for chairs 
were luxuries then. 

Other clumsy things, that ought to have found place in 
barn or "leanto," are mentioned so regularly in the list of 
hall or kitchen chattels, that we are compelled to think 
they were really there — the " chirne," and powdering tub, 
as they called the great tub used for salting meats, barrels 
and keelers, cowles for water-cai rying and pails, bucking 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 15 

tubs for washing and buckets, beere vessels and sundry 
articles of unknown use, "earthen salts," "cheese-breads," 
"beekor balke," and "haylcs." 

Either those halls must have had extraordinary capacity 
for storage, or the occupants must have had scant room 
in many a house. Queer, confused rooms they must have 
been at best, in their furnishings and the multitude of 
employments continually going on, as suggested by the 
implements, the spinning and weaving, the sewing and 
knitting, the washing and ironing, cooking and brewing, 
butter and cheese-making. Their garnishings, too, were 
quaint. Strings of dried apples and corn, fat hams 
swinging in the smoke of the chimney aifid, grim and 
stern, the ever present fire-arms, ready for use at a 
moment's warning. The briefest inventory includes these. 

Matthew Whipple's "hall," on the corner of Summer and 
County streets, must have been a veritable arsenal. Upon 
its walls hung three muskets, three pair bandoleers, three 
swords, and two rests, or crotched sticks, in which the 
long heavy musket barrel was rested while aim was taken, 
a fowling piece, a "costlett," or armor for the breast, a pike 
and sword, a rapier, a halberd and bill. In John Knowl- 
ton's "hall," we should have found a musket, bandoleers, 
rest, knapsack, moulds and scourer. John Lee, the owner 
of the land still known as Lee's, or Leigh's meadow, on 
the Argilla road, had a sword and belt, pistols and holster, 
and Luke Heard owned a "pistolett." Head pieces and 
corselets were not uncommon. John Winthrop's kitchen 
may have been a depot of supply, for it contained four- 
teen muskets, rests and bandoleers. 

The frequent mention of candlesticks suggests that 
candles were in common use in these first Ipswich homes, 
yet a more primitive method was common in the poorer 
families at least. 



16 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

Higginson tells us how the Salem houses were lighted, 
at the beginning of the settlement. " Although New 
England have no tallow to make candles of, yet by the 
abundance of the fish thereof, it can aft'ord oil for lamps. 
Yea, our pine trees that are the most plentiful of all 
wood, doth allow ns plenty of candles, which are very 
useful in a house. And they are such candles as the In- 
dians commonly use, having no other, and they are noth- 
ing else but the wood of the pine tree, cloven in two 
little slices, something thin, which are so full of the 
moysturc of turpentine and j)itch, that they burn as cleere 
as a torch." "Candlewood," is the name of a fine farm 
district of our town to-day. It assures us that the Ips- 
Avich planters knew the value of the fat pine strips. 
" Old lamps," are sometimes mentioned, perhaps the open 
iron or tin cup with a wick lying over one side fed with 
fish oil, or lamps brought with their household goods. 

The frugality- of the early living is frequently remarked 
on. Felt says, "For more than a century and a half, the 
most of them had })e;i and bean porridge, or broth, made 
of the liquor of boiled salt meat and pork, and mixed 
with meal, and sometimes hasty pudding and milk, both 
morning and evening." But those great spits (Matthew 
Whi}iple had four that weighed together twenty pounds), 
brass baking pans and dripping pans, kettles and pot?;, 
gridirons, frying pans and skillets, tell of more appetiz- 
ing fare. 

The cattle in the stalls and the abounding game in forest 
and sea, furnished the material for substantial and gener- 
ous living for the great majority, we will believe. Yet 
the best-spread table would have looked strange to us. 
Wooden })lates, sometimes a square Int of wood, slightly 
hollowed or perfectl}^ plain, and platters for the central 
dish, at best dishes and plates of bright pewter; no forks, 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 17 

for forks did not attain common use till the latter years 
of the century ; no coffee or tea, but plenty of home- 
brewed beer and cider and stronger spirits for drinks, — 
these things seem rude in style and deficient in comfort. 

In the parlor, or "the fine-room," surprises await us as 
well. Like the hall, it had its fireplace, and its goodly 
array of hearth furniture, but its furnishings were rarely 
elegant. The most conspicuous article, even in the homes 
of rich men, like Matthew Whipple and John Whitting- 
ham, was the best bed, of imposing size and stately ele- 
gance, with its curtains and valance, or half curtain, that 
hung from the cross pieces to the floor, and is still in use 
with ancient bedsteads, — fitted most luxuriously with a 
mat upon the cords, and with beds that awake our envy. 
Matthew Whipple's best feather bed, bolster and nine 
pillows weighed one hundred and six pounds, and were 
valued at £5-6-0. Mr. Whittingham's parlor bed and 
furnishings were worth £12-0-0, Thomas Barker's of 
Rowley, £13-0-0. What an amount of "solid comfort" 
is represented by an hundred weight of feathers with a 
warming pan, in those bleak Puritan winters ! 

The furnishings were ample. Mine host Lumpkin, 
one of the earliest inn-keepers, had 2 flock beds and 2 
bolsters, in addition to the feather bed ; also five blankets, 
one rug and one coverlet. Strangely enough, a rug or 
carpet was a bed furnishing and not a floor covering and 
mention remains of a rug for the baby's cradle. 

In John Jackson's house, close I)y the present Metho- 
dist meeting-house, was "a half-headed bedstead," that 
rejoiced in " an old dornix coverlet, " and it had " a side 
bed for a child. " Lionel Chute, the schoolmaster, in 
his East street home, had an " old damakell coverlet. " 
Thomas Firman had " damicle curtaynes and vallens. " 
A trundle bed was common. Beside the bed were a table, 



18 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

a " joyned table, " as it is called, made with turned legs, 
and "joyned stools, " few chairs, but plent}^ of cushions, 
and a " ciishen stoole " occasionally. Whittingham's 
parlor had eleven curtains, and its two windows were 
adorned with curtains and curtain rods, one of the few 
instances mentioned of which I am at present aware. 

In the parlor, too, were the chests, the common strong 
boxes in which they brought their goods and the more 
elaborate ones for storage of bedding and table linen. 
One chest in Whipple's parlor was furnished with a glass 
and there were three simpler ones. These chests were 
highly prized by their owners, and they were important 
pieces of furniture when the closet and modern bureaus 
and chiffoniers had not yet found place. Lionel Chute 
mentions in his will, "all things in my chest, and white 
deep box with the locke and key." We read of great 
chests and small chests, long boarded chests, great 
boarded chests and John Knowlton's "chest with a 
drawer :" also of trunks and boxes. Kobert Mussey 
bequeathed his daughter Mary in 1(U2 his home, adjoin- 
in": that of John Dane the elder, "in the West street in 
the town, " also " my best Bible, " " a great brass pan to 
be reserved for her until she comes of years, " and "the 
broad box with all her mother's wearing linen. " 

The " cubbered " as it was spelled, was common, and it 
bore a "cubberd clothe " " laced " or " fringed. " 

In some of the finest houses there was a clock, valued 
at £1 in Matthew Whipple's, £2 in Thomas Nelson's of 
Rowley. In Whipple's parlor, too, there was "a staniell 
bearing cloth ; " and a " baize bearing cloth. " This was 
used, it has been affirmed, for wrapping babies, when 
carried to baptism, and Puritan l)abies invariably went to 
church on the first Sunday after birth. On January 22, 
1694, Judge Sewall records— "A very extraordinary 



THE EAELY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 19 

storm by reason of the falling and driving of the snow. 
Few women could get to meeting. A child named Alex- 
ander was baptized in the afternoon. " I fancy that many 
wee new-born children were taken to the Elder's hos- 
pitable fireside, before and after the baptism in the icy 
cold meeting house, and those bearing cloths may have 
been a kind of public property, and often seen in the 
first house of worship, for Whipple died the year the 
old house was sold, 1646. 

The family still for extracting the fragrant oil from 
rose leaves and the medicinal virtues from roots and 
herbs found place in the stately Whittingham parlor ; and 
in Giles Badger's of Newbury there were a " a glass howl, 
beaker and jugg, " the only suggestion of toilet conven- 
ience which I remember. A case of glass bottles now 
and then is mentioned. 

But of pictures for the wall and carpets for the floor, 
and the ornaments now deemed essential for parlor 
adorniugs, there were few. The finest Puritan parlor of 
these early days was only a primitive best bed-room. In- 
deed, it was not always a spare room. Joseph Morse, 
whose will was probated in 1646, bequeathed his son 
John "the bed and all y^' bedding he lyeth on, standing 
in the parlor. " 

Above stairs the sleeping apartments of the family 
were found. For the most part, they were cold and 
cheerless, mere lofts, as the houses were of one story. 
In one house at least, in Rowley, the floor boards were 
laid so loosely that a person above could look down 
through the cracks and see whatever was occurring below, 
as a witness testified before the court. If such wide 
spacing was common the heat from the hall fire would 
have made the " chamber over the kitchen " the coveted 
room. 



20 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

But Mr. Whittingham's house had a set of fire irons in 
the chamber over the parlor, and this excess of dignity 
betokens not only more of comfort than fell to the com- 
mon lot, but a larger house, with two full stories, as the 
fittings of the room indicate as well, — an interesting item 
architecturally, since Mr. Whittingham died in 1648. 

The contents of that chamber are so interesting that 
they deserve a full record as showing how much of luxury 
even was found in the better class of Ipswich houses of 
this early period. 

" A bedstead, two fether beds, curtains, rugg, etc." £13- 0-0 
" One fether bed, one boulster, two quilts, two 

pair blankets, one coverlet, and trundlebed," 6- 0-0 
"Four trunks, one chest, one box, two chairs, four 

stools, two small trunks," 3- 5-0 

"9 pieces of plate, 11 spoons 25- 0-0 

"10 pr. sheets, £8 ten others £4 12- 0-0 

"3 pr. pillow beers 8' 1- 4-0 

"3 " " " 5» 15-0 

"Four table cloths 2-10-0 

"1 doz. diaper, 2 doz. flaxen napkins 1-10-0 

"2 doz. of napkins 12-0 

"the hangings in the chamber," 1-10-0 

"3 hoUand cupboard cloths" 2- 4-0 

2 half sheetes 1-10-0 

1 diaper and damask cupboard cloth 1- 0-0 
one screene 10-0 

2 pair cob-irons, 1 pr. tongs 15-0 
one carpett 3-10-0 

"one pair curtaius and vallance 5- 0-0 

"one blew coverlet," 1- 0-0 

This was a regal room for the times, with its carpet 
and screen, its hangings upon the walls, its rich store of 
family silver, and its sumptuous beds and bed linen. 
Think of twenty pairs of sheets, all spun and woven by 
hand, and a single bedstead with its belongings, worth 13 
pounds sterling, more than twice the whole value of some 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 21 

of the dwellings of that day ! But Shakespeare's will 
specified the " second best bed " for his wife's portion — 
and extraordinary value commonly attached to these high 
posted, canopied, curtained structures. Yet this room had 
no looking glass nor toilet articles, nor bureau nor case 
of drawers. 

In the other chamber we find a variety of miscella- 
neous articles besides the beds and bedding, a saddle, rolls 
of canvas of different value, 10 yds. of French serge, 
G yds. of carpeting, remnants of holland and a valuable 
assortment of wearing apparel, worth £22, unfortunately 
for our information, with no mention of garments in 
detail. 

In Matthew Whipple's chamber, there were 7 children's 
blankets, and a pillion cloth and foot stool. At Joseph 
Morse's, the chamber was a store room, where were de- 
posited, as we have mentioned : 

20 bushels Indian corn £2- 10-0 

mault 

half bushel hemp seede 2-0 

6 small cheeses 2-0 

20 pounds butter 10-0 

"hemp drest and undrest." 10-0 

One other fine interior must be noted — that of 
Nathaniel Eogers — pastor of the church from June, 1636, 
to 1655, whose residence stood very near the old Baker 
house, so called, fronting on the South Green, and whose 
house lot reached down to the River, and was bounded by 
Mr. Saltonstall's property on the S. W. and Isaac Com- 
ing's on the N. E. 

Mr. Rogers died in 1655 leaving an estate, real and 
personal, valued at £1497, a princely fortune in those 
days. His hall contained a small cistern, with other im- 
plements, valued at 17s. (this was an urn, probably of 



22 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

pewter, for holding water and wine, and the " other im- 
plements" were wine-glasses perhaps), two Spanish 
platters, of earthen or china ware, very rare at that 
time, a chest and hanging cupboard, a round table with 
live joined stools, six chairs and five cushions. Evidently 
this was a dining room, for the kitchen was a separate 
room, with an elaborate set of pewter dishes, flagons and 
the like that weighed a hundred and hfty pounds, and the 
usual paraphernalia of cooking utensils including a 
" jacke " for turning the spit. 

The parlor contained some rare articles, a great chair, 
two pictures, a livery cupboard, a clock and other imple- 
ments worth three pounds, window curtains and rods, and 
the one solitary musical instrument in all the town, so far 
as early inventories show, "a treble violl," by which is 
meant, it may be supposed, a violin. Yet this elegant 
room had a canopy bed and down pillows. 

The chamber furnishings were exceptionally fine. Its 
bed and bedding were valued at £14-10-0. A single 
" perpetuanny coverlet " was appraised at £1-05-0. There 
was a gilt looking glass, a "childing wicker basket'' for 
the babies' toilet, perhaps, a table basket, and a sumptu- 
ous store of linen. A single suit of diaper table linen 
was reckoned at £4, two pair of hoi land sheets at £3- 
10s., five fine pillow-beeres or cases, £l-15s., and goods 
brought from Old England worth over twenty pounds. 

In the chamber over the hall were a yellow rug, a 
couch, silver plate worth £35-18s., and the only watch I 
have ever found mentioned, valued at £4, in addition to 
the common furniture. 

The study gloried in a library worth £100-0-0, an ex- 
traordinary collection of books, revealing scholarly tastes 
as well as a plethoric purse, a cabinet, a desk and two 
chairs, and a pair of creepers or little fire irons. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 23 

In contrast with the comfort and luxury of these tine 
homes, "the short and simple annals of the poor " would 
be of deep interest. Unfortunately for us, as well as 
for the humble folk themselves, who dwelt in houses 
sixteen and eighteen feet square, their belongings were 
so few and cheap that an inventory seemed superfluous, 
and we are left largely to our own surmising as to how 
they lived. One glimpse into the humbler sort of home 
is permitted us in the inventory of William Averill. His 
will was entered in 1652. He gives to each of his seven 
children the sum of live shillings, " for my outward estate 
being but small. " lu his inventory his house and lot were 
appraised at £10, and the furnishings enumerated are : 

1 iron pott, 1 brass pott, 1 frying pan, 4 pewter platters 

1 flagon, 1 iron kettle, 1 brass kettle, 1 copper, 1 brass 

pan, and some other small things, £2-17-0 

2 chests, 1 fether bed, 1 other bed, 2 pair of sheets, 2 

bolsters, 3 pillows, 2 blankets, 1 coverlid, 1 bedstead, 

and other small linen, 5-10-0 

2 coats and wearing apparel 3- 0-0 

a warming pan 3-0 

a tub, 2 pails, a few books 10-0 

a corslett 1- 0-0 

The total of house, land, cattle and goods being £50. 

He was not desperately poor then, but his circum- 
stances were somewhat narrow. His family numbered 
nine souls, yet they had but one bedstead, and beds and 
bedding only adequate for this, and four pewter platters 
for the daily meals. How these nine Averills ate and 
slept would be an entertaining story, and a reproof to 
much discontent. 

In Coffin's History of Newbury I find the following, 
under the date 1657 : " Steven Dow did acknowledge to 
him it was a good while before he could eate his masters 
food viz. meate and milk, or drinke beer, saying he did 



24 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

not know it was good, })ecause he was not used to eat 
such victuall, but to eate bread and water porridge, and to 
drink water. " No doubt many a family of the poorer 
sort lived as frugally as he. 

The house of John Winthrop, jun., who led the lit- 
tle band of settlers to our town in 1633, is the most 
interesting of the earliest homes. "An Inventorie of 
Mr. Winthropps goods of Ipswitch, " made by William 
Clerk, about the year 1636, while Mr. Winthrop was in 
England, has recently come into the possession of the 
Historical Society. Thanks to the carefulness of the 
ancient recorder, we know the contents of every room, 
and we tind far less of luxury than Mr. Rogers enjoyed. 
Indeed, the humblest of his fellow-citizens might have 
felt at home in the unpretentious domicile of the excellent 
young leader. The inventory was made at so early a 
date, moreover, that it gives us certain knowledge of the 
rooms and their furnishings of one of the original houses, 
it is safe to presume. 

Imp"; In the Cham'^ ov' the Parlor 1 feath"^ bed 1 banckett 
1 covlett 1 blew rugg 1 boster & 2 pillowes. 
trunck marked wih R. W. F. wherein is 
1 mantle of silk wth gld lace 
1 hoUand tablecloth some 3 yards loung 
Ipr. SSS hoU [twilled hollaud?] sheets 
1 pillo bear half f iill of childs liuuing, etc. 

5 childs blanketts whereof one is bare million 
1 cushion for a child of chamlett 

1 cours table cloth 3 yards long 

6 cros cloths and 2 guives? 

9 childs bedds 2 duble clouts 1 ?•■ hoU sleeves 
4 apons whereof 1 is laced 

2 smocks 2 pr sheets 1 napkin 

1 whit square chest wherein is 
1 doz. dyp. [diaper?] napkins I damsk napkin 

1 doz. hoU napkins 

2 doz. & 2 napkins 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 25 

2 cubord cloths 
11 pillow beares 
11 SSS napkins 
2 table cloths 

4 towills 

1 SSS holl shirt 

2 dyp towills 

3 dyp table cloths 

1 p"- SSS holl sheets 

1 long great chest where in is 
1 black gowne tam'y 
1 gowne sea grecne 

1 child s baskett 

2 old petticotts 1 red 1 sand coll"" serg 
1 pr leath'' stockins 1 mufl' 

1 window cushion 

5 qnishion cases 1 small pillowe 
1 peece stript linsy woolsy 

1 pr boddyes 

1 tapstry covlett 

1 peece lininge stnff for curtins 

1 red bayes cloake for a woman 

1 pr of sheets 

In the Cham'' ov^" the kyohin 

1 feath»' bed 1 boster 1 pillowe 2 blanketts 
2ruggs bl. & w' 

2 floq bedds 5 ruggs 2 bolsters 1 pillowe 
1 broken warming pan 

In the Garrett Charn^' ov'' the Storehouse 

many small things glasses, potts etc. 

In the Parlor 

1 bedsted 1 trundle bedsted v/^^ curtains & vallences 

1 table & G stooles 

1 muskett, 1 small fowleiug peece w"> rest and bandeleer 

^ 1 trunk of pewter 

# 1 cabbinett, wherin the servants say is 

rungs [rings?] iewills 13 sil"" spoones this I cannot open 

:f^ 1 cabbinett of Surgerie 

In the kyttchin 

1 brass baking pan 
5 milk pans 



26 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

1 small pestle & morter 

1 Steele mill 

14 muskets, rests & bandeleers 

2 iron kettles 2 copp"" 1 brasse kettle 

1 iron pott 

2 bl jacks 

2 skillitts whereof one is brasse 

4 porringors 

1 spitt 1 graf 

1 p' racks 1 p"' andirnes 1 old iron rack 

1 iron pole 1 grediron 1 p'' tongs * 

2 brass ladles 1 pr bellowes 
2 stills ■w"^ bottums 

In M^ Wards hands 

1 silv"" cupp 6 spoones 1 salt of silver 

In the ware howse 

2 great chests naled upp 

1 chest 1 trunk w'^'^ I had ord"' not to open 

1 chest of tooles 

^ 6 cowes 6 steeres 2 heiffers 

# dyv" peeces of iron and Steele 

Mr. Winthrop's wife and infant daughter had died not 
long before, and a pathetic interest attaches to the con- 
tents of the chests. The trundle bed in the parlor would 
indicate that this had been the family sleeping room. 
Evidently there were but four rooms and the house we 
can easily imagine was small and unassuming. 

HOW THEY DRESSED. 

A demure Puritan simplicity, we may think, character- 
ized the dress of our forefiithers. Life in the wilderness 
may seem to harmonize only with coarse and cheap attire, 
for an age of homespun logically admitted of no finery. 
Such preconceptions are wide of the truth. Puritan 
principle required a protest against current fashion as 
against religious and social usages ; but the elegance and 



THE EABLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 27 

expensiveiiess of both male and female dress in Old Eng- 
land had been so great that a goodly degree of reaction 
and repression could find place and yet leave no small 
remnant of goodly and gay attire. Not a few of those 
men and women of old Ipswich came from homes of 
luxury, — Dudley and Bradstreet from the castle home of 
the Earl of Lincoln ; Saltonstall from contact with the 
nobility in his knightly father's house ; Winthrop and 
Whittingham from fine family connections. Many fair 
English costumes found place in their chests and strong 
boxes that came over the seas, and the plain houses and 
plainer meeting-house were radiant, on Sabbath days and 
high days, with bright colors and fine fabrics. 

The common dress of men was far more showy than 
the fashion of to-day. A loose fitting coat, called a doub- 
let, reached a little below the hips. Beneath this, a long, 
full waistcoat Avas worn. Baggy trousers were met just 
below the knee by long stockings, which were held in 
place by garters, tied with a bow-knot at the side. 
About the neck, a " falling band " found place, a broad, 
white coHar, that appears in all pictures of the time ; and 
a hat with conical crown and broad brim completed the 
best attire. A great cloak or heavy long coat secured 
warmth in winter. Their garments were of various 
material and color. Unfortunatel}^ wearing apparel is 
usually mentioned in the bulk in inventories ; but occa- 
sional specifications afibrd us an idea of the best raiment. 

Mention is made of " a large blew cote " and " a large 
white coat ;" of a fine "purple cloth sute, doublett and 
hose " belonging to John GoflTe or Goss of Newbury, who 
also had a short coat, a pair of lead-colored breeches, a 
green doublett, a cloth doublett, a leather doublett, also 
leather and woolen stockings, two hats and a cloth caj). 
The men generally had their rough suits of leather and 



28 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

homespun for the farm work, and the delicate clothing for 
special occasions. So we find musk-colored broadcloth 
and damson-colored cloth, cloth grass-green, blue waist- 
coats and green waistcoats, cloth hose, and hose of 
leather and woolen stuff', boots and shoes, black hats, 
home-made caps, gloves, silver buttons, of which John 
Cross owned three dozen and one, and sometimes a gown. 

Of the ladies' wardrobe, I am loth to speak. Certain 
popular pictures of Priscilla at her spinning, and sweet 
Puritan maidens watching the departure of the Mayflower, 
have pleased our fancy, and forthwith we clothe the 
women of the days of old in quaker-like caps and dresses, 
graceful in their simplicity, — nun-like garbs, over which 
Dame Fashion had no tyranny. But the truth must be 
told. 

Widow Jane Kenning, who lived near the corner of 
Loney's Lane, had for her best array, "a cloth gowne, " 
worth £2 5s., "a serge gown" valued at £2, "a red petti- 
coat with two laces, " appraised at a pound sterling, and 
lesser ones of serge and paragon, a cloth waistcoat and a 
linsey woolsey apron. That " cloth waistcoat " was no 
mean affair, I judge. The lawyer, Thomas Lcchford of 
Boston, who indulged in a silver-laced coat and a gold- 
wrought cap for himself, records : " Received of Mr. 
Geo. Story, four yards and half a quarter of tuft holland 
to make my wife a wastcoate at 2s. 8d. a yard." Widow 
Kenning's was worth 8s. Lecliford also enters under 
date 1640, Feb. 1 : " I pay'd John Hurd [a tailor in 
Boston], delivered to his wife by Sara our mayd, for 
making my wife's gown, 8s." "Tailor made" dresses 
are not a modern invention, then, and if Boston dames 
were patrons of tailors, the ladies of aristocratic Ipswich 
were not a whit behind. 

For common wear, blue linen, lockram or coarse linen. 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PUKTTANS. 29 

linsey-woolsey, mohair, a mixture of linen and wool, and 
holland were the common materials. 

Dame Eliz. Lowle of Newbury had her riding suit and 
muff, silver bodkins and gold rings. Some interesting let- 
ters to Madame Rebekah Symonds, widow of the Deputy 
Governor, from her son by a former marriage in London, 
in the Antiquarian papers, reveal these wardrobe secrets. 
He wrote in 1664= of sending his mother a "flower satin 
mantle lined with sarsnet, £1 10s., a silver clasp for it 
28. 6d., cinnamon tatfity 15s., two Cambrick whisks with 
two pare of cufts £1 " also, in the same ship, " a light blew 
blanket, 200 pins, 1 1 yards chamlet, also Dod on the Com- 
mandments (bound in green plush), also a pair of wed- 
ding gloves, and my grandmother's funeral ring." In 
1673, he sent " one ell i of fine bag Holland, 2 yds. | of 
lute-string, a Lawn whiske, wool cards one paire, a Heath 
Brush, 2 Ivorie Combe, ye bord box rest. " 

In her sixtieth year Madam Symonds, keenly alive to the 
demands of fashion, had written her son for a fashionable 
Lawn whiske ; but he, anxious to gratify her, yet desirous 
as well that his mother should be dressed in strict accord 
with London fashion, replied that the " fashionable Lawn 
whiske is not now worn, either by Gentil or simple, 
young or old. Instead whereof I have bought a shape 
and ruffles, which is now the ware of the gravest as well 
as the young ones. Such as goe not with naked necks 
ware a black wifle over it. Therefore I have not only 
Bought a plaine one yt you sent for, but also a Lustre 
one, such as are most in Fashion." 

She had sent for damson-colored Spanish leather for 
women's shoes. This, lie informed her was wholly out of 
style and use, and ''as to the feathered fan, I should also 
have found in my heart, to have let it alone, because none 
but very grave persons (and of them very few) use it. 



30 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

That now 'tis grown almost as obsolete as Russets, and 
more rare to be seen than a yellow hood." 

Nevertheless, to please the exacting leader of the 
Ipswich ton, he sent, with ten yards of silk, and two 
yards of Lustre " a feather fan and silver handle, two 
tortois fans, 200 needles, 5 yds. sky calico, silver gimp, 
black sarindin cloak, damson leather skin, two women's 
Ivorie knives, etc." 

Madame Symonds was no more addicted to the utter- 
most extreme of fashion than were the women of the first 
years of the settlement and the men themselves, we must 
confess. It is one of the anomalies of history that the 
most religious of all people, as we have come to think 
them, the Sabbath-keeping, church-going Puritans, should 
have l)een so far in thraldom to the world, the flesh and 
the devil, that they were guih}'^ of frholous excess in 
aping the fashions of the mother-land. But so it was. 

In 1634, the love of fine clothes was so notorious, that 
the General Court felt constrained to lament " the greate 
sup fluous, and unnecessary expences occaconed by 
reason of some newe and imodest fashions, as also the 
ordinary wearing of silver, golde and silk laces, girdles, 
hat-bands, etc." and ordered forthwith that no person, 
either man or woman, "shall hereafter make or buy an 
aj)pell either woolen, silke or lynnen, with any lace in it, 
silver, golde, silke or threade," under i)enalty of forfei- 
ture of such clothes — "also noe (pson, either manor 
woman, shall make or buy any slashed cloathes, other 
than one slash in each sleeve and another in the liackes ; 
also all cut-works, imbroidered or needle worke, cappes, 
bands and rayles, are forliidden hereafter to be made or 
worn, under the aforesaid penalty." Apparel already 
in use might be worn out, but the immoderate great 
sleeves, slashed apparel, immoderate great " rayles," long 



THE EARLY HOiMF.8 OF THE PURITANS. 31 

wings, etc., were to be curtailed and remodelled more 
modestly at once. 

In 1039, when our town had been gathering strength 
five 3'ears, the tiat again went forth against " women's 
sleeves more than half an ell wide in the widest place, im- 
moderate great breches, knots of ryban, broad shoulder 
bands, and rayles, silk roses, double ruffes and cuflTes, 
etc. " Sleeves were a target for Shakespeare's wit. 

"What, this a sleeve? 

There's snip, and nip, and cut and slish and slash, 
Like to a censor in a barber's shop." 

No doubt the women of Ipswich needed admonition 
in these particulars, and some of the men most likely 
walked abroad with their doublet sleeves slashed to dis- 
play the fine linen shirt sleeves beneath, with too large 
trousers and knots of ribbon in their shoes, or wearing 
boots with flaring tops, nearly as large as the brim of a 
hat, very conspicuous, if made of "white russet" leather, 
as Edward Skinner's in 1641. Perchance they dared to 
wear their hair below the ears, and falling upon the neck. 
The English Roundhead with short, cropped hair, in 
obedience to Paul's injunction, was the ideal of the sterner 
Puritans of our Colony, but there was from the beginning 
a persistent determination by some of the more frivolous 
sort, to wear long hair. Higginson jocosely discovered 
the origin of the fashion in the long lock worn by Indian 
braves. The General Court set its face as a flint against 
this in 1634. It was a burning theme of pulpit address, 
and the clergy prescribed that the hair should by no 
means lie over the band or doublet collar, but might 
grow a little below the ear in winter for warmth. 

Nath. Ward, in his Simple Cobbler, dispensed wisdom : 
"If it be thought no wisdome in men to distinguish them- 
selves in the field by the Scissers, let it be thought no 



32 THE EA!a.Y HOINFES OF THE PURITANS. 

injustice in God not to distinguish them by the sword," and 
" I am sure men use not to wear such manes." It was 
derisively suggested that long nails like Nebuchadnezzar's 
would be next in Fashion. 

Rev. Ezekiel Rogers of Rowley was so bitter in his 
detestation of the habit that he cut off his nephew from 
his inheritance because of his persistence ; and in his 
Election sermon before the General Court, he assailed 
long hair with fiery zeal. 

So enormous was the offence that on May 10, 1649, 
Governor Eudicott, Deputy Governor Dudley and seven 
of the Assistants thus declared themselves : " Forasmuch 
as the wearing of long hair after the manner of ruffians 
and barbarous Indians has begun to invade New England, 
contrary to the rule of God's word, which says it is a 
shame for a man to wear long hair, etc.. We, the magis- 
trates, who have subscribed this paper, (for the shewing 
of our own innocency in this behalf) do declare and man- 
ifest our dislike and detestation against the wearing of 
such long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly, 
whereby men doe deforrae themselves, and offend sober 
and modest men, and doe corrupt good manners. We 
doe, therefore, earnestly entreat all the elders of this 
jurisdiction (as often as they shall see cause to manifest 
their zeal against it in their public administration) to take 
care that the members of their respective churches be not 
defiled therewith ; that so such as shall prove obstinate 
and will not reforme themselves, may have God and man 
to witness against them. " 

Some gay-plumed ladies of his Ipswich church may 
have been in his mind, when grim Mr. Ward discharged 
himself of his ill-humor against the sex, affirming " When 
I heare a nugiperous Gentle-dame inquire what dress 
the Queen is in this week, what the nudius tertian of 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE TUIllTANS. 33 

the Court, I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, 
the product of a quarter of a cypher, the Epitome of 
nothing, fitter to be kickt, if she were of a kickable sub- 
stance, than either honored or humored." 

"To speak moderately, I truly confess it is beyond the 
ken of my understanding to conceive, how those women 
should have any true grace or valuable vertue, that have 
so little wit as to disfigure themselves with such exotick 
garbs, as not only dismantles their native lovely lustre, 
but transclouts them into gant bar-geese, ill-shapen, 
shotten shell-fish, Egyptian hieroglyphics, or at the best 
into French flurts of the pastry, Avhich a proper English 
woman should scorn with her heels. It is no marvel they 
wear drailes on the hinder part of their heads, having 
nothing as it seems in the fore-part but a few Squirrel 
brains to help them frisk from one ill-favor'd fortune to 
another." 

His indignation against tailors for lending their art to 
clothe women in French fashions was intense: "It is a 
more commtm than convenient saying that nine Taylors 
make a man ; it were well if nineteene could make a 
woman to her minde ; if Taylors were men indeed, well 
furnished but with meer morall principles, they would 
disdain to be led about like apes, by such mimick Mar- 
mosets. It is a most unworthy thing for men that have 
bones in them to spend their lives in making fidle-cascs 
for f utilous women's phansies ; which are the very petti- 
toes of infermity, the gyblets of perquisquilian toyes." 

Ridicule, precept and statute law were alike powerless to 
check this over-elegance. Again in 1651, the General 
Court repeated its "greife . . . that intollerable excesse 
and bravery hath crept in upon us, and especially amongst 
people of meane condition, to the dishonor of God, the 
scandall of its professors, the consumption of estates, and 



34 THE EAULY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

altogether unsuteable to our povertie." Hence it pro- 
ceeded to declare its " utter detestation and dislike that 
men or women of mean condition, educations and callings 
should take upon them the garl) of gentlemen by the 
wearing of gold and silver lace, or buttons, or poynts at 
their knees, to walke in greate bootes, or women of the 
same ranke to wear silke or tiflany hoodes or scarfes, 
which though allowable to persons of greater estate or 
more liberal education, yet we cannot but judge iutoller- 
able in person of such like condition." 

So, at last, it was ordered that no person whose visible 
estate did not exceed £200 should wear such buttons or 
gold or silver lace, or any bone lace above 2s. per yard 
or silk hoods or scarfs, upon penalty of 10s. for each 
oifence. Magistrates and their families, military officers, 
soldiers in time of service, or any whose education or em- 
ployments were above the ordinary were excepted from 
the operation of this law. 

The judicial powers were in grim earnest, and at the 
March term of the Quarter Sessions Court, in Ipswich, 
some of her gentle folk felt the power of the law. 

Ruth Haffield, daughter of the widow whose farm was 
near the bridge, still called " Hatfield's," was " presented '' 
as the legal phrase is, for excess in apparel, but upon the 
affidavit of Richard Coy, that her mother was worth £200 
she was discharged. George Palmer was fined 10s. and 
fees fov wearing silver lace. Samuel Brocklebank, 
taxed Avith the same ofience, was discharged. The wife 
of John Hutchings was called to account shortly after for 
wearing a silk hood, but she proved that she had been 
brought up above the ordinary rank and was discharged. 
John Whipple made it evident that he was worth the 
requisite £200 and his good wife escaped. Anthony 
Potter, Richard Brabrook, Thomas Harris, Thomas Maybe 



THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 35 

and Edward Brown were all called upon to justify 
their wives' finery. 

In 1659 the daughter of Humphrey Griffin presumed to 
indulge in a silk scarf, and her father was fined 10s. and 
court fees. John Kimball was able to prove his pecu- 
niary ability and his wife wore her silk scarf henceforth 
unquestioned. As late as 1675, Arthur Abbott, who is 
mentioned as the bearer of fine dress goods from Madame 
Symonds' son in Loudon, and who very naturally may 
have brought his good wife some finery from the London 
stores, was obliged to pay his 10s. for his wife's public 
wearing of a silk hood. Benedict Pulcipher for his wife, 
Haniell Bosworth for his two daughters, John Kindrick, 
Thomas Knowlton and Obadiah Bridges for their wives' 
over dress, were called to account before judge and jury. 

The middle of the century found one of the most 
whimsical and extraordinary fashions in vogue in Eno-- 
land, and New England was infected as well, we presume. 
Ladies decorated their faces with court- plaster, cut in 
fantastic shapes. Bulwer, in his "Artificial Changelino-," 
published in 1650, in England, speaking of these patches 
says " some fill their visage full of them, " and he de- 
scribes the shapes one fine lady delighted to wear : " a 
coach with a coachman and two horses with postilions on 
her forehead, a crescent under each eye, a star on one 
side of her mouth, a plain circular patch on her chin." 

In " Wit Restored," a poem printed in 1658 : 

"Her patches are of every cut 
For pimples and for scars ; 
Here's all the wandering planets' signs 
And some of the lixed stars, 
Already gummed to make them stick. 
They need no other sky." 

As the century waned, the ofience of wearing long hair 
paled into insignificance beside the unspeakable sin of 



36 THE EARLY HOMES OF THE PURITANS. 

wearing wigs. Happily, or unhiippily, as the point of 
view varies, the ministers could not agree in this. The 
portrait of Rev. John Wilson, of Boston, who died in 
1667, presents him wearing a full Avig, and many of the 
clergy were addicted to the same head-gear ; but public 
sentiment was strong against the fashion, and the General 
Court in 1675, condemned "the practise of men's wearing 
their own or other's hair made into periwigs." Judge 
Sewall alludes to the hated custom with spiteful brevity 
in his Diary. 

"1685— Sept. 15. Three admitted to the church. Two wore peri- 
wigs." 

1697— Mr. Noyes of Salem wrote a treatise on periwigs. 

1708— Aug. 20. Mr. Cheever died. The welfare of the province 
was much upon his heart. He abominated periwigs." 

The Judge felt such extreme virulence toward these 
"Horrid Bushes of Vanity," that he would not sit under 
the ministrations of his own pastor, who had cut off his 
hair and donned a wig, but worshipped elsewhere. 

In our neighbor town of Newbury, the clerical wig 
was so much an affront that, in 1752, Eichard Bartlett was 
taken to task for refusing to commune with the church 
because the pastor wore a wig, and because the church 
justified him in it, and also for that " he sticks not from 
time to time to assert with the greatest assurance that all 
who wear wigs, unless they repent of that particular sin 
before they die, w^ill certainly be dammed, which we judge 
to be a piece of uncharital^le and sinful rashness." 

But the battle was already lost. In 1722, here in 
Ipswich, just about on the site of the Seminary building, 
Patrick Farrin, chirurgeon, boldly hung out his sign, 
" periwig-maker " and the gentlemen of Ipswich could 
have their wigs and keep them curled, powdered and 
frizzled as fashion required. 

Women, too, were given to marvellous coiffures. 



THE EARLY HOMER OF THE PURTTAN8. 37 

Cotton Mather apostrophized the erring sex in 1G83 — 
" Will not the haughty daughters of Zion refrain their 
pride in apparel ? Will they lay out their hair, and wear 
their false locks, their borders and towers like comets 
about their heads?" They were called "apes of Fancy, 
friziling andcurlying of their hayr." They had fallen far 
away from the Puritan " liangs " to which Higginson al- 
ludes in his comment on the Indians. " Their hair is gen- 
erally black and cut before like our gentlewomen." Then, 
their hair was built aloft and extended out "like butterfly 
wings over the ears." "False locks were set on wyers to 
make them stand at a distance from the head." 

A bill is mentioned by Felt, as contracted in this town 
in 1697 " for wire and catgut in making up attire for the 
head." 

But le^al restriction of dress was at an end. The 
whim of the wearer, and the state of the purse, henceforth 
determined the fashion of head dress and raiment. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 



BY THOMAS FRANKLIN WATERS. 



It is a partial recompense for the sleepy, unprogressive 
life that has prevailed in old Ipswich for a century or 
more that a large number of substantial mansions of the 
colonial type have been preserved in their pristine sim- 
plicity. They have escaped the smart remodelling inci- 
dent to vigorous prosperity, which often despoils such of 
their old chimneys, and improves them, as the phrase is, 
with porticoes, piazzas, bay-windows and modern cover- 
ings for the roof, until only a memory of the original 
house remains. Nearly every one of our ancient mansions 
retains its severe Puritan plainness of architecture, the 
great chimney stack, jutting-over stories, small windows 
and modest front door. The only change they have suf- 
fered is the ancient one which was in vogue more than 
two centuries ago, when new rooms were built on the 
back side, and new rafters were run towards the ridge-pole, 
giving the familiar " lean-to " roof. 

Many of these houses are of venerable age, beyond a 
doubt, but not so old by many years, I am convinced, as 
popular belief assigns them. It pleases our local pride to 
call them relics of the earliest times. It gratifies their 
owners or occupants to see them gazed at with wide-eyed 
wonder by the stranger to whom the story of their great 
age is told. The visiting artist or lover of antiquarian 

(39) 



40 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

lore is enraptured with their appearance and the traditions 
that cluster about them, and straightway publishes abroad 
the quaint charm of these old landmarks. When our 
250th anniversary was celebrated, certain old dwellings 
were placarded to the effect that they were built in 1635, 
or thereabouts. Statements of this nature are still being 
made at frequent intervals. 

In the interest of historic truth alone, I am compelled 
to call attention to the facility with which error can be 
made in this field, the importance of recognizing certain 
cardinal principles of accurate historical research, and the 
pressing need of an unbiassed application of these princi- 
ples to the antiquities of our town, before the errors al- 
ready made are hopelessly crystallized. 

A strong presumption against the veracity of any 
reputed date, before the middle of the seventeenth century 
at the least, is found in the known facts relating to the 
architecture of our earliest times. 

The builders of this town found it a wilderness, hardly 
broken by the few squatter settlers who had dwelt here 
prior to their coming. They built as any pioneer builds 
to-day, I imagine — as the Plymouth Pilgrims did — sim- 
ple homes of logs, or hand-hewed timber, with thatch- 
roof and wooden chimney, well covered with clay to save 
it from burning. They had no time for elaborate house- 
building, for land had to be cleared, crops sown and 
tended, and provision made for their support through the 
coming winter. They had no material for nice carpentry. 
Permission to build the first saw-mill, of which any record 
remains, was not granted until 1649. Every joist and 
board was sawed by hand in saw pits, or smoothed with 
the broad-axe. Every nail, hinge and lock was hammered 
out by the blacksmith. 

Adequate evidence of reputed age must of necessity be 
documentary. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 41 

Tradition is whimsical and fantastic. It chains poor 
Harry Main on Ipswich bar, and locates a ghost in his 
bouse, recently demolished, which was vanquished by the 
united efforts of the three ministers then resident here, 
and effectually cast out. It frightens old Nick out of the 
meeting house when Whitefield preaches and shows his 
footprint in the ledge. 

Tradition is ludicrously unhistoric. It links the ro- 
mance of the regicides with a house, that was not built 
until long years after the last of the famous three had been 
buried in his secret grave. Tradition is no more reliable 
than the common gossip of the town. It has a grain of 
truth to-day. To-morrow it will be wholly false. A month 
hence, its falsehood will be curious and wondrous. 

A sober and reliable man recently affirmed that, in his 
boyhood, the farm house recently purchased by Mr. Camp- 
bell of Mr. Asa Wade was moved from a neighboring 
corner to its present location ; but Mrs. Julia Willett, 
who was married in the old house that stood about where 
the present one is, and went to live at Willett's mill near 
by, states that the present house was built, where it stands, 
about 1833, and -Mr. Francis H. Wade is confident that 
the house which was moved is the one now owned and 
occupied by Mrs. William Kimball. How easily the his- 
tory of these houses is confused and misstated only sixty 
5''ears away from the fact ! 

An ancient type of architecture is an insufficient proof 
of extreme age. One of our most venerable houses was 
torn down when Mr. George E. Farley's house was built, 
and its site is occupied by his residence. The old relic 
had all the marks of great age : huge chimney, projecting 
over-stories, low, sloping " lean-to " roof, great summers 
or central beams in the low studded lower rooms, and very 
small windows. 



42 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

This corner was purchased by William Donnton of 
Thomas Lovell in 1695, an unpretending hundred-rod 
lot with no building of any sort mentioned as standing upon 
it. These old deeds are very explicit and that so large an 
item as a house could have been omitted in the descrip- 
tion of the estate is incredible. At Donnton's decease his 
daughter Elizabeth, wife of Robert Perkins, sold her right 
and title in " the mansion or dwelling house and barn, 
with part of the homestead on which they stand to our 
loving brother-in-law, Joseph Holland," in 1721. In 1765, 
at Widow Holland's death, it was purchased by Francis 
Holmes, a physician. This old mansion was built, there- 
fore, subsequently to 1695. This type of architecture, it 
is believed, established itself about 1660, but it continued 
well into the following century. 

Contemporaneous documentary evidence, then, deeds 
of sale, wills, town records, etc., must be the decisive 
test, and when the credible written document conflicts 
with the unwritten tradition or the recorded tradition even, 
the tradition must go to the wall. Even this evidence 
must be carefully weighed, for there is possibility of error 
lurking here. 

The question of the identity of a house now in existence 
with a house mentioned in an early deed or record is al- 
ways pertinent. As in our own time, a man may buy an 
estate, remove the old house, build anew, and sell again, 
and no evidence of this appear in the deeds, except from 
an enhanced price ; so a succession of houses may have 
occupied the same lot in the past, without a word of allu- 
sion in the deeds to any change. It is an historic fact that 
houses had been built very near the beginning of our town 
on many lots, which may be readily recognized, and on 
some of which old houses still remain ; but it is far from 
certain that these are the identical early dwellings. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 43 

The use ot material from an old house in construction 
of a new one may also prove a false scent. An old brick 
with a date stamped upon it may be found ; but this may 
have been used as a souvenir of some earlier building. 
Unsupported by more substantial evidence it cannot carry 
much weight. 

An interesting illustration of the blending of the old 
and the new has just been afforded by the building of an 
addition to the house owned by the late William Kinsman 
on the South side. On stripping off the modern clap- 
boards it was seen that the boarding was very old. One 
board of clear white pine, extra thick, was twenty-three 
inches wide. Many hand-wrought nails were found. As 
cut nails were not made until 1790, it might have been 
surmised that this was the identical old house that deeds 
of sale mention far back into the preceding century. But 
it is known that this old building was either destroyed, or 
changed so completely that a new house resulted about 
thebeginningof this century, and careful inspection shows 
old nail holes that indicate an earlier use of these old 
boards. 

The question of age then, it will be seen, is one that 
admits of no certain solution in many instances. Identity 
may not be disproved, but it is not established for lack of 
proof to the contrary. The principles we have already 
outlined, as underlying all historic judgment, compel us 
to admit the existence of doubt as to the validity of the 
supposed date, where great antiquity is assumed. 

It will be recognized readily now, that the accurate 
determination or even approximation ol age of any build- 
ing involves much careful research. Step by step, advance 
must be made toward the goal. No guesswork, no hasty 
assumption, no romantic fancies can be tolerated. The 
toil involved is great, but it is as fascinating as the pry- 



44 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOISES. 

iiiir open (if any secret in nature or in history. In my 
o\vn researches I have arrived at certain conckisions which 
I proceed to state, as an ilkistration of the method which 
8eems to nie necessary, in every case, before probable ac- 
curacv can be assumed. 



JOHN WHIPPLE S HOUSE. 

The old house now owned by Mr. James W. Bond, near 
the depot, shall be the first considered. In the original 
division of lauds, according to the town records, Daniel 
Denison received two acres near the mill, Mr. Fawn's 
house-lot being southwest, and ]Mr. Fawn's lot was bound- 
ed by Mr. Samuel Appleton's on the southwest. The 
Denison land included the area bounded by Market, Win- 
ter and Union streets at present. The Appleton owner- 
ship of land beyond the old house is unquestioned. Mr. 
Fawn's house-lot included the site of the old mansion. 

As early as 1638. allusion is made in the town rec- 
ords to the house-lot "formerh' John Fawn's." Felt says 
that he removed to Haverhill in 1641. He may have gone 
earlier. In the year 1642, John Whipple was iu occu- 
pation of this property, for in that year the town ordered 
that John Whipple "should cause the fence to be made 
between the house late Captain Denison's and the sayd 
John AVhipple, namely on the side next Capt. Denison's." 
Denison had sold his house and land here to Humphrey 
Griffin on Jan. 19, 1641, the record informs us, so that 
the allusion to a change of ownership occasions no diffi- 
culty. 

Mr. John Fawn executed a quitclaim deed in October, 
1650. which confirmed the sale of a house and 2^ acres of 
land to Mr. John Whipple, formerly sold unto said John 
Whipple by John JoUey, Samuel Appleton, John Cogswell, 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSE*. 45 

Robert Muzzey and Humphrey Bradstreet. The nature 
of this earlier transactioD is a mystery, but Fawn's title 
was not wholly extinguished until this deed was executed. 

The will of John Whipple, senior, signed and sealed 
May 19, 1669, gave his house, etc.. to his son .John. 
Capt. John Whipples will dated Aug. 2, 168-3, lett his 
property to his sons, John, Matthew and Joseph, and his 
dausrhter. Joseph, not yet of age, was to have the house 
where he lived, if the other sons agreed. In the actual 
divisiou " the mansion house, his father died in, with the 
bam, out-houses, kiln, orchard, etc., with 2 J acres of land 
more or less," was given to John. 

The Whipple malt kiln is frequently mentioned from 
very early times. The building mentioned in this will is 
probably the same that stood where the mill store-house is 
now, which was removed about sixty-five years ago to the 
lot adjoining the South parsonage, built up a story, and 
still serves the better purpose of shop and woodshed, its 
boards and timbers blackened by years of malting. 

!Major John Whipple in his will, 1722, gave his daugh- 
ter, Marv Crocker and her heirs, his homestead and many 
of the fumishinors ; and a remembrance to his son-in-law. 
Benjamin Crocker. ^Ir. Crocker was a teacher of the 
srammar school and preached frequently. Major Joseph 
Hodgkins married a daughter of Benjamin Crocker, and 
bought out the others, I am inionued. At his decease, 
Mr. Nathaniel Wade, a son-in-law, was administrator and 
sold the house and an acre of land to one Moore or More, 
who in his turn sold to Mr. Abraham Bond. Another 
acre was sold to !Mr. Estes. 

The pedigree ot this property seems beyond a doubt. 
Mr. Saltonstall never owned a foot of laud here. His 
ownership of the mill in the near vicinity is beyond ques- 
tion. He also owned the "^lill Garden." as it is called 



4t) SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

in the old records, but the location of this latter property 
is settled beyond question by the deed of sale, by Richard 
and Nathaniel Saltonstall to John Waite and Samuel 
Dutch (April 2, 1729), of one-third of the " Mill Garden," 
comprising one and one-half acres, bounded on the south- 
east by the Town River, on the north-east and north-west 
by the County Road, and on the south-west by the road 
leading to the mills, with house, dye-house, stable, mills, 
etc., lately the property of Col. Nathaniel Saltonstall of 
Haverhill . 

Dutch disposed of his interest in the two grist mills 
and the piece of land called the Mill Garden near the 
mills, to John Waite, Jr.. on Feb. 19, 1730. This 
" Garden " included, therefore, all the land bordering on 
the River from the Choate Bridge, down Market street, 
to the corner of Union, and then up Union street to 
the Mill. The house mentioned in the former deed was 
not Mr. Saltonstall's residence. His town dwelling and 
a goodly fourteen acre home-lot were on the South side, 
and his deed of sale to Samuel Bishop (Sept., 1680), 
with other deeds, which will be mentioned in the study of 
"a group of old houses near the South Green," shows 
that his mansion was near the southern end of the Green. 

Pleasing as it is to the popular mind to associate the name 
of the high-born Saltonstall with this old mansion, if we 
value truth, as I interpret it, we must drop the old fable. 
As to the present house, it cannot reasonably be identified 
with the house of 1640 or thereabout, on the general 
grounds we have mentioned. The first John Whipple left 
an humble estate, the second John was very wealthy. His 
estate inventoried £3314. His household effects were 
elaborate and multitudinous. The probabilities are that 
he built the present mansion some time subsequent to 1669 
aud prior to 1683. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 47 



THE APPLETON HOUSE. 

The comfortable residence of Mr. George D. Wildee, 
on the corner of Market and Central streets, is much more 
ancient than its appearance indicates, and is one of the 
most interesting of our old mansions. 

Happily, it has been owned by a succession of well- 
to-do people, who have kept it in excellent repair. The 
original shape of the house has been lost, however, as it 
was formerly three stories high, and several modern addi- 
tions have been made. Mr. Hammatt surmised that it 
was built about 1681. This cannot be true. Col. John 
Appleton bought the lot, containing about an acre and a 
half, of Jacob Davis, for £33, February 25, 1707. There 
was no house on the land at that time. An old map of 
this locality shows that it was there in 1717. Between 
these two dates, probably about 1707, the house was built. 

Colonel Appleton was Chief Justice of the Court of 
Common Pleas for many years, and Judge of Probate for 
thirty-seven j'^ears. He was also a Deputy and Councillor. 
In his day, the old mansion was one of the finest in our 
town, and was renowned for its elegance and open hos- 
pitality. Governor Shute on his way to New Hampshire 
tarried here in 1716, and many a distinguished traveller 
enjoyed its good cheer. 

Col. John's son, Daniel, succeeded to the ownership on 
his father's death. He was also a Colonel, a Representa- 
tive, a Justice of the Court of Sessions, and Register of 
Probate from January 9, 1723, to Aug. 26, 1762. 

Another Register of the old Probate Court, Daniel 
Noyes, who filled the office from Sept. 29, 1776, to May 
29, 1815, owned and occupied this house, already so 
closely associated with the judicial annals of our town. He 
was 11 citizen of the finest quality. He was graduated from 



48 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

Harvard in 1758, taught the Grammar school from 1762 
to 1774; was delegate to the Congress of the United 
Colonies in 1774-5, and became Postmaster in 1775. 

Mr. Abraham Hammatt, the eminent antiquarian, pur- 
chased and remodelled the house, and from him it has 
come by inheritance to its present owner. 

Before it was remodelled, it contained a dark chamber 
or closet, which came to have no small celebrity as the 
reputed hiding place ol one of the Regicides. No record 
or tradition remains of any sojourn of a Regicide in this 
vicinity, and the house was not built for years after the 
last of the eminent fugitives had been laid to rest in his 
secret grave. 

Nevertheless, the romantic tale found ready credence, 
and still survives. The late Mrs. Wilhelmina Wildes 
used to declare that it was the invention of some airy 
seminary girl, who roomed in the old house. Be that as 
it may, the dark room in question was very likely the re- 
pository of the probate records. It is well known that 
" Squire " Lord, who succeeded Mr. Noyes as Register, 
kept the books in his house until the brick probate office 
was built, and it is more than probable that Mr. Noyes 
and his predecessor, Colonel Appleton, provided a place 
of deposit under their own roof. 



"YE SPARKS ORDINARY. 

Close by the Wildes mansion the Baker house, so called, 
now occupied by Mr. George K. Dodge, affords an inter- 
esting: studv. Is it identical with the famous old hos- 
telry kept by John Sjjarks, at which Judge Sew^all used 
to lodge, and many another famous man ? 

This location was originally granted to William Fuller, 



SOMS; OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 49 

the gunsmith of the Pequod expedition. To the half acre 
the town granted liim, he added half an acre more, which 
he purchased of William Simmons, and another small lot 
which was bought of Christopher Osgood, who then ad- 
joined him on the lower side, making about an acre and 
a quarter in all. He sold this with the " small dwelling " 
he had built to John Knowlton, shoemaker, in 1639. 
^Vm. White succeeded in the ownership, and sold "the 
dwelling house, barn, orchard, garden and Parrocke or 
inclosure of earable land adjoining, " two acres in all, to 
"John Sparks, Biskett Baker," in lt571. In that year he 
received his first license "to sell beere at a pennj'a quart, 
provided he entertain no Town inhabitants in the night, 
nor suffer any to bring wine or liquors to be drunk in his 
house.'" He built a bake house for the furtherance of his 
business. For twenty years he kept his ordinary, and 
then sold an acre and a half of his property with the 
l)ake house and barn to Col. John Wainwright, but con- 
tinued to live on the remainder. In 1705, John Roper 
sold the Colonel the house, " formerly in possession of 
Mr. John Sparks, now in possession of Mary, widow of 
John, with a small parcel of land." 

When Colonel \\'^ainwright sold the whole estate to 
Deacon ^'ath. Knowlton in 1707, it included two distinct 
tenements, as they were styled : the one higher up the 
Hill, occupied by Thomas Smith, inuholder ( which was 
probabh^ the old tavern) ; the other, at the southeast 
corner, occupied still by the widow Sparks, who had a 
life interest in it. Deacon Knowlton divided the estate 
into three parts and sold them in 1710. Ebenezcr Smith 
l)()ught the lot on the southeast corner of the estate, 
with six rods frontage, and a small dwelling house. It 
is specified that it adjoined the Appleton property, now 
the Wildes estate. This then is easily identified as the 



50 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

location now occupied by Mr. Charles W. Brown, the 
apothecary. 

The middle lot, containing an acre of land with house, 
barn, etc., was sold to John Smith, shoemaker. The 
upper lot, measuring three rods on the street, without a 
house, was bought by Ephraim Smith, brother of John. 
John Smith sold a part of his lot to Edward Eveleth 
in 1732, and all the rest of his estate, with the house, to 
Jacob Boardman in 1734. Boardman sold to Patrick 
Farren, a periwig-maker, and to James McCreelis of the 
same craft in 1735. McCreelis bought the other half and 
sold the whole to Nath. Treadwell, innkeeper, in 1737. 
Jacob Treadwell, son of Nathaniel, received "the tavern 
house " and land as his portion of the paternal estate in 
1777. The Treadwell tavern was frequented by John 
Adams and the Bench and Bar of pre-revolutionary days, 
and figures in the diaries of the time. Moses Treadwell, 
jr., came into possession in 1815 and in 1834 his execu- 
tors sold to Joseph Baker, Esq., of Boston, whose name 
still attaches to the house. 

Evidently the house that the widow Sparks occupied 
stood about where Mr. C. W. Brown's house is to-day, as 
we have mentioned above. Was this the inn, or w^as the 
building, called the "bake-house, " really the ordinary? 
The house is called a small house. Thomas Smith, the 
purchaser of the bake-house, etc., was an inn-keeper. 1 
surmise that the latter alternative is the more probahlo. 
Is the present Baker house identical with that old " bake- 
house ? " Its whole appearance indicates later architecture 
and more noble use. The probabilities all seem to me 
against such identification. But I know of no data which 
can establish its exact age. It was built evidently fortwf) 
families. The two large chimneys seem to have been 
built in their present location, and not to replace an 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 51 

original central chimney stack. The arrangement of stair- 
ways, etc, indicates this double use. The house that 
Jacob Boardman sold to Patrick Farren and James Mc- 
Creelis in 1735 was a double house and probably this. 
Boardman bought the place in 1734 and it is wholly im- 
probable that he would have built a new house and sold it 
at once. So it belonged to John Smith, we may presume, 
and John Smith may have bought it in 1710 and it may be 
the very house that Thomas Smith, innholder, used for an 
ordinary in 1707. But of this we cannot be sure. The 
only thing we can seem to affirm with any certainty is 
that it was probably erected prior to 1734. 

The old house that now occupies the corner of Winter 
and Market Sts. was moved there some fifty years ago 
from its original location between the Baker house and 
Mr. Brown's. Christian Wainwright, the widow of John, 
bought this lot in 1741. There is no mention of a house 
in this deed, but in her deed of sale to Daniel Staniford, 
in 1748, the house is specified. It was built between 
these two dates. 



JOHN proctor's house AND ITS NEIGHBORS. 

Three neighbors of the olden time were John Proctor, 
Thomas Wells and Samuel Younglove, and it has been 
affirmed so often, that it has become an axiom, that Mr. 
Samuel N. Baker's residence is the old Proctor house, 
that the ancient dwelling that stood where the Town House 
is was Wells's, and that Younglove occupied an ancient 
house, which disappeared long ago, farther along the street. 
If we search carefully we may arrive at a different con- 
clusion. 

Johu Proctor's lot, on which his house stood, occupied 
the square now bounded by South Main, Elm and County 



52 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

streets and the River. Of this there can be no doubt. 
Proctor sold to Thomas Firman in lf)47, and in the fol- 
lowing year, in the inventory of Firman's estate, Mr. 
Proctor's property was appraised at £18 10s., a low valua- 
tion indicating a small and cheap house with this amount 
of land. George Palmer owned it in 1651, as he sold 
then to Ralph Dix, and in 1661 Dix sold this 2^ acres and 
house toEzekiel Woodward. Incidentally we learn where 
the house stood. Liberty was granted Cornet Whipple, 
in 1673, "to sett up a fulling mill at the smaller falls, 
near Ezekiel Woodward's house. " Woodward's house 
then was on the County-street side of the lot, and where 
else should we naturally suppose it? County street, from 
the corner by the church to the river, was one of the most 
ancient thoroughfares. The present South Main street, on 
which the Baker house fronts, was not opened until 1646, 
when the cart britlije was built. Years after the bridire 
was built, in 1672, Ezekiel Woodward sold Shoreborne 
Wilson a half-acre tract, which had a frontage on the 
street, now called South Main, of seven rods, and was 
liounded by his lot on the south and east, and on the 
north, by " the Common and the River, " which would 
indicate that the two rods " fisherman's way " was contin- 
uous alone the river bank at that time. Seven rods, 
measured from the river bank, includes the site of the 
Baker mansion, and at this dato, 1672, there is no evi- 
dence that any building of any sort had been erected on 
this lot. 

Woodward sold the remainder of his land and hous<' to 
John Hubbard in 1079. Hubbard sold to Nathaniel Rust, 
senior, 1685, one acre of this pro[)erty, the eastern por- 
tion, with the house, reserving a right of way, where Elm 
street now is, and on the same day, he sold Shorei)<»rne 
Wilson the remainder, the western p:nt on South Main 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 53 

street, reserving one rod wide against Knowlton's fence 
for a right of way, as in the previous deed, no edifice be- 
ing noentioned. 

Wilson sold his house and an acre and half of land to 
John Lane in 1694. As he bought the vacant lot in 1672, 
the house was erected between these two dates, 1672 and 
1694. 

John Lane sold the property to Edward Bromrield and 
Francis Burroughs of Boston, in 1697, and from them it 
passed to Samuel Appletoii in 1702. After his death, 
Jasper Waters and Jasper Waters, junior, of London, 
linen drapers, creditors, pos.sibly, of the deceased mer- 
chant, purchased the widow's right of dower, and sold the 
estate to Isaac Fitts, hatter, consisting now of a mansion 
or dwelling house, barn, etc., in the year 1734. 

Fitts sold the northern corner of this property "near 
the southerly abutment of Town Bridge " to Thomas Bur- 
nam, junior, April 5, 1736 ; and now, for the first time, 
it is mentioned that a house and barn are located here. 
The conclusion of the matter is, therefore, that the Baker 
mansion is the old Shoreborne Wilson residence, built be- 
tween 1672 and 1694, and that the old Ross tavern, as it 
came to be, now owned by Mr. Warren Boynton, was built 
between 1734 and 1736. 

Thomas Wells's house and land came into the hands of 
Stephen Jordan, and were sold by him to Samuel Young- 
love, jr., and by him to George Hart. Various deeds 
make it plain that the house was on or near County street. 

Samuel Younglove, senior, owned a lot, which fronted 
on South Main street, and his house is located pretty defi- 
nitely by his deed of sale of house, barn and an acre of 
land to Dea. William Goodhue in 1669, and in Joseph 
Goodhue's deed to Isaac Fellows, junior, 1694. It stood 
not far from the old gambrel-roofed house on the estate of 
the late Johu Heard. 



54 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

One word in this connection as to the site of the orig 
nal Foot Bridge, alhided to in our earliest records. The 
record mentions that Thomas Wells's houselot was " on 
the further side the River, near the foot-bridge." Locat- 
ing Wells on the corner of Elm and County streets, we 
may locate the Foot Bridge at the only natural and easy 
place for such a bridge in this vicinity. Originally the 
land on which the saw mill now stands was a rocky island, 
separated by a narrow stream only from the mainland on 
the sonth. A single tree trunk would have reached from 
the old highway to the island, another long log would have 
spanned the rocky river bed at its narrowest. A foot- 
bridge here would have afforded easy access to the meet- 
ing house and the centre of the little community. Here, 
I believe, the foot-bridge of ancient Ipswich really was. 

But the record remains, I am aware, that, in 1655, the 
Town "agreed with John Andrews Junior, to bring so 
many sufficient rayles to the Bridge-foot as will cover the 
Bridge over the River, neare the mill for the sum of £3, " 
and it has been assumed that thus the foot-bridge was 
near the mill. 

But foot-bridge and bridge-foot differ as trul}' as a 
horse chestnut differs from a chestnut horse. The bridge- 
foot evidently means the end of the bridge, or the ap- 
proach to the bridge, for the bridge in question is th*^ 
cart-bridffe as the record itself makes evident. Thus the 
same Mr. Andrews was ginuted six acres of salt marsh 
for gravelling "the one half the Bridge the rayles are 
laid," and John West is awarded as much more for the 
other half. No conceivable foot-bridge would have in- 
volved such large expense. 

Confirmation of this sense of the word is found in the 
assignment of Isaiah Wood as surveyor of highways, 
" from the loot of the Town-bridge to the turning of the 
highway on this side WindmilUHill, " in 1678. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOD8ES. 55 



ON THE RIVER BANK. 

The river bauk from the mill-dam to the Bridge waa 
wholly unoccupied and ungranted as late as 1693, except 
one small lot by the dam, which was occupied by Samuel 
Ordway's blacksmith shop. lu March of that year, the 
Selectmen laid out this stretch of land in twenty-three lots, 
ranging from thirty-six feet to eighteen feet in width, and 
granted them to as many individuals. It was stipulated 
by the Town that these lots were given " provided that 
they make up the banck strong front to ye low water mark 
and no further into the River, and that they build or front 
up their several parts within twelve months after this time, 
and that they build no further into the Street than the 
Committee shall see tit, and that they cumber not the high- 
way nor stop the water in the street, but make provision 
for the water to run free into the river under such build- 
ings, and also that each man's part be sett out, and that 
each person provide and make a good way by paving a 
way four foot wide all along before ye said buildings for 
the conveniency of foot travellers, and to have posts sett 
up upon the outside to keep off Teams from spoyling the 
same, and that it be done with stone, or if they are timber, 
must be purchased of others, if they have not of their 
own timber. " 

These rigorous conditions discouraged the improvement 
of the lots. They reverted to the Town, apparently, for 
the most part. Robert Lord built a shop, and Mrs. Dean 
owned a house on this territory, prior to 1722, Rev. 
Augustine Caldwell identides the Dean house with a. 
dwelling that formerly occupied the site of the old lace 
factory now used as a tenemrnt house." 

Joseph Abbey received a grant, made a wall and built 
a house near Mrs. Dean's. In 1723, he petitioned the 



.58 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

town for help, as his place had cost him more than he an- 
ticipated, and received ten pounds. His house was built 
about 1722, probabI>^ and Mr. Caldwell states that this is 
the old house formerly occupied by Mr. Wesley K. Bell. 

Nathaniel Fuller bought the lot assigned his brother Jos- 
eph, twenty-eight feet wide, in 1693. Thomas Knowlton 
bought Cornelius Kent's lot, eighteen feet wide, and sold 
to Fuller, whose lot was then forty-six feet in width. He 
built the wall, filled in the lot suitably for building, and 
erected a dwelling. Allusion to " Nathaniel Fuller, de- 
ceased " in 1726, shows that his house antedates that year. 
In 1739, Nathaniel Knowlton of Haverhill gave a quitclaim 
deed of the house, etc., of the late Nathaniel Fuller to 
Nathaniel Fuller, junior, tailor, and it is described as 
"joining the Town Bridge." This is the house owned by 
the late Mrs. Susan Trow. It had originally a central 
chimney stack. 

Isaac Fitts, hatter, petitioned for forty feet on the river 
bank, adjoining Fuller's land in 1726, that he might set 
a dwelling thereon. This was granted provided he built 
within two years. He built at once, for Joseph Abbe 
asked the Town in 1727 to add twenty feet more of the 
river bank to his former grant '' the front to extend from 
the Easterly corner in a straight line toward Isaac Fitts's 
dwelling, which is the easterly corner of said Abbe's shop." 
Fitts sold to Arthur Abbott, innholder, for £240, in 
1733, his house, shop, half the well, and eight rods of 
land, " being partly a grant made to Capt. Daniel Rmge, 
the other to me by the Town." The lot had sixty feet 
frontatre, and abutted on the south on the land dwelt on 
by Jonathan Lord. Abbott sold to Cornelius Brown, of 
Boxford, for £370 bills of credit, bounded by Jonathan 
Lord and Nathaniel Fuller, in 1738. Daniel Brown, of 
Cambridge, sold to Daniel Badger, painter, in 1760 ; Mary 
Badger to Timothy Souther; one-fourth interest in 1794, 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 57 

bounded by Nathaniel Rust and John Kimball. This is 
the old '' Souther " house, next south of Mr. Baker's store. 

William Jones desired "the remaining part of the 
River's bank next Joseph Abbe's grant down the River 
to the place reserved for a highway which is about 60 
feet, " in 1727, This was granted him, and the Committee 
recommended that a way twenty feet wide to the river be 
reserved. This public way to the river remains, adjoining 
the property lately owned by Wesley K. Bell, Esq. The 
house, on the south side of this way, is the one erected 
by Mr. Jones at this time, now owned and occupied by 
Mr. Edward Ready. 

The lot adjoining the twenty feet way in 1726 was 
granted Joseph Manning, who was desirous of settling in 
his native town, but had no dwelling place. It was eighty 
or ninety feet long. Dr. Manning built his house forth- 
with, and occupied it to the time of his death, 1786. By 
the provision made in his will, it then became the property 
of his daughter Anstice, wife of Francis Cogswell, who 
sold the house, warehouse, and one hundred and six feet 
frontage, to Joseph Cogswell, in 1808. Here Joseph 
Green Cogswell, the eminent teacher of the Round Hill 
school and librarian of the Astor Library, was born. It is 
owned now by Mr. Josiah Stackpole. 

The house between this and the Souther house is al- 
luded to as occupied by Jonathan Lord as early as 1733. 
and was probably built about the time its neighbors were. 
It is quite a remarkable circumstance that six very com- 
fortable houses stand here side by side, every one of which 
was built in the near vicinity of 1725. 



A GROUP OF OLD HOUSES NEAR THE SOUTH GREEN. 

Richard Saltonstall owned fourteen acres, about eight 
acres of which lay to the south of the brook, then called 



58 ^OME OT.n irswTcn houses. 

Saltonstall's Brook, and frequently alluded to under that 
name, and the remainder north of it, extending from the 
highway to the river. This is the brook that crosses the 
road by Mr. Josiah Stackpole's soap factory. Mr. Salton- 
stall's hoiise was somewhere north of the brook. 

This whole property, including his mansion, he sold to 
Samuel Bishop rei)re8enting the estate of Thomas Bishop, 
September, 1680. Job Bishop sold to Capt. Stephen 
Cross in 1684. Cross divided the property. In 1689, 
Nathaniel Rust was in possession of the part on the south 
of the brook. The half acre, north of the brook, front- 
ing on the street was sold to Elisha Treadwell and by him 
to John Treadwell in 1689, and by him to Thomas Man- 
ning in 1691. Manning also acquired a rod more frontage 
in 1692 and a quarter of an acre in the rear in 1696. This 
tract did not include Saltonstall's house. 

Capt. Stephen Cross left the remainder of his estate to 
his two minor sons, Stephen and John, in 1691 ; and in 
1706, Stephen sold to Benjamin Dutch, sadler, his right 
and title to the dwelling house Dutch occupied, and the 
land for £65. 

Dutch sold Thomas Norton, tanner, for £140 in 1730, 
a house and six rods square of land, bounded by Manning 
and Dutch's other land and the highway. This is the 
house that now stands in dismal decay just opposite the 
Parsonage, and it seems to have been built between 1706 
and 1730. Even if Dutch acquired only a half interest in 
the Cross house and five acres of land for £65 in 1706, 
the increase in value between that and £140 for a house 
and only thirty-six rods of land, indicates that a new 
house must have been erected on this site. At Mr. Nor- 
ton's decease, it became the property of his widow. Sub- 
sequently Margaret Norton executed a deed of half of it to 
her brother, George Norton. Then it belonged to Thomas 
Appleton, to John Wade, etc. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 59 

Returning now to the south of the brook, Nathaniel 
Rust sold an acre, bounded by the brook and the street, 
including buildings, tan-yard, etc., to Thomas Norton in 
March, 1700, and in November of that year Norton mar- 
ried Mercy Rust, daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Rust. Mr. 
Rust, it will be remembered, was ordered to furnish the 
gloves for Mr. Cobbett's funeral in 1685. 

In 1701, Rust sold his son-in-law the seven acres ad- 
joining the tan-yard lot, and in 1710, he sold Norton and 
Daniel Ringe, who had married his two daughters, his 
house aud laud where the South Church now stands. Nor- 
ton and Ringe sold out to Ammi Ruhamah Wise in 1723, 
and I suspect that, at this time. Deacon Norton, as he was 
then called, built the substantial house that stands to-day 
in excellent repair, under the great elm tree, aud evincing 
in its interior finish a wealthy builder. 

Thomas, the son of the Deacon, a Harvard graduate, 
and once teacher of the Grammar school, married Mrs. 
Marj' Perkins in 1728, and his father took to wife the 
widow Mary Ray men t of Beverly, 1729. 

This double marrying seems to have resulted in the pur- 
chase of the Dutch house by the senior Thomas, in the 
following June, as Thomas Norton, junior, was witness 
to the signature. 

Deacon Norton died in 1744, and Thomas, junior, in- 
herited the estate. Thomas Norton, junior, died in 1750. 
At his death, his widow was apportioned the "Dutch 
house" and its thirty-six rods of land. His son Thomas 
received the homestead, barn, bark-house, old house, Beam 
house, tan-yard and pits, half the little house, etc. The 
homestead was appraised at £226, 13, 4. In 1771, Nor- 
ton sold the whole property to Dummer Jewett for £240, 
and in 1791, his widow sold it to the County of Essex " to 
be improved and used as a House of Correction." The 



60 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

prison was built near the site of the residence of the late 
Rhoda B. Potter, and the grounds inclosed with a high 
red fence. The old mansion was the keeper's residence. 
Many old people remember it while it served this use. 

Despite its fresh appearance, the comfortable house 
lately owned and occupied by Mrs. Potter, is of vener- 
able age. It was built on the corner now occupied by the 
Meeting: House of the South Parish, and when that edi- 
fice was erected in 1837, it was removed to its present 
location. The well belonging to it remained visible until 
recently, in the old corridor in the cellar, near the door. 

I presume from its interior architecture that the present 
house is identical with the one owned and occupied by 
Dr. Samuel Rogers, a prominent citizen, for many years, 
on the original site. Rogers purchased the property of 
Daniel Wise, in June, 1750. Wise received it from his 
father. Major Ammi Ruhamah Wise, son of the celebrated 
Rev. John Wise of the Chebacco Parish. Major Wise 
purchased from Daniel Ringe and Thomas Norton, in 
1723, who bought the estate of Nathaniel Rust, their 
father-in-law, in 1710. Rust acquired the property, with 
a house and barn, on June 2, 1665, by purchase, from Dea- 
con William Goodhue, but I am unable to find the deed 
of Goodhue's purchase. I presume it was a part of the 
original Younglove grant. It seems improbable that the 
house mentioned in the deed of 1665 should have been 
good enough in 1837 to be removed and repaired. The 
joint ownership ot Ringe and Norton may indicate a 
double house at that period. It would not be hard to 
believe that Major Wise built it in the days of his pros- 
perity, but this must be wholly a matter of surmise. 

The old Wade mansion was built in 1728 and has al- 
ways remained in the family. It was inherited by Nathan- 
iel Wade, who served with conspicuous honor in the 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 61 

Revolutionary War. When Benedict Arnold went over to 
the British, Washington at once sent an order to Colonel 
Wade to take command of West Point and hold it, say- 
ing " We can trust him." The original military order, 
bearing Washington's signature is a priceless relic, now 
in the possession of Mr. Francis H. Wade. An attic room 
in this house has always been called "Pomp's" room. 
Pomp was a slave of the olden time, but a very jolly fel- 
low with a gift for doggerel rhyme which was exercised on 
many occasions. One day, the tradition runs, he came 
back from town with the astounding news : 

" Here is more of old Choate's folly 
He's torn down the old bridge 
And turned out Walley." 

The old town bridge was replaced by the stone bridge 
in 1764, and in the same year Rev. John Walley resigned 
his pastorate at the South Church. Colonel Choate was 
so conspicuous a citizen and official that his name is still 
borne by the bridge. He was very prominent in church 
affairs as well. 

The worthy Thomas Norton, junior, owned a slave 
•Phillis, valued in the inventor}'^ at £26, 13s. 4d. These 
old mansions are filled with weird memories. Pomp and 
Phillis are mementoes of slave life in our county. 

The residence of Mr. F. T. Goodhue is venerable and 
interesting. Rev. John Rogers, in 1734, deeded his son 
Samuel, a physician, about half an acre here, described as 
" all yt part of my homestead or old orchard, lying before 
the land that was Mr. Francis Crompton's, from the South 
corner, opposite said Crompton's land by a strait line to 
ye street or highway, with all building, trees, etc." It 
hardly seems likely that the house would not have been 
mentioned specifically if it were then built. 



62 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

Dr. Rogers sold his dwelling house, land, etc., to 
John Wulley, first pastor of the South Church, and Mr. 
Walley sold it to his successor, Joseph Dana, in 1766, 
"excepting the hangings being painted canvass in the 
Front Room, nearest to the meeting house, as also the 
hanofinofs in the chamber over said room which, it is mu- 
tually agreed, said Joseph Dana shall take down with all 
convenient speed and deliver to said John Walley at his 
order." 

I should judge from the deeds that Samuel Rogers built 
the house in 1734 or subsequently. 

Old people remember an ancient house, that stood near 
the corner of the Heard land, facing the east. This was 
the home of Col. John Choate, Esq., in early days, and 
was purchased by him of the heirs of Francis Crompton. 
Crompton bought the land, three acres, without any sure 
mention of a house in the deed, in 1693. Averill,the ear- 
lier owner, was a poor man, if I associate the correct in- 
ventory with his name. Crompton probably built the 
house. It fell into decay and was removed more than fifty 
years ago. 

Before leaving this locality, it may be of interest if we 
trace the outline of the original Saltonstall property, since 
it establishes incidentally several interesting facts. 

We have mentioned that the Thomas Manning property 
and the Thomas Norton property included an acre or more 
of the Saltonstall estate. Benjamin Dutch sold a lot con- 
taining thirty square rods, six rods frontage and five rods 
depth, adjoining Mr. Norton to Joseph Appleton in 1730 
for £72. It is styled a "certain piece of upland" and 
no house was included in the purchase. But Joseph Ap- 
pleton had a house here some years later, and it is likely 
that he built it about the time of his purchase. A well 
near the street in Mr. Theodore Cogswell's vacant corner 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 63 

lot here may have been Appleton's well. It is interesting 
to note the fiict that, although the deeds mention this house 
repeatedly, it disappeared so long ago that no remem- 
brance or tradition of its existence has survived. The 
remainder of the Saltonstall property, four acres less or 
more, was sold by Benjamin to Nathaniel Dutch, for £150 
in 1737. It was bounded on the northeast partly by Rev. 
Mr. Rogers' land and partly by common land, that is, the 
old training field ; but it embraced quite a portion of the 
present Common, for the Joseph Appleton lot was bounded 
by it on the north. 

Nathaniel Dutch sold 95 rods in 1733 to William Story, 
Esq., Isaac Dodge and Samuel Lord, jr., a committee of 
the First Parish, and Joseph Appleton, Esq., John Baker, 
Esq., and Isaac Smith, gentleman, a committee of the 
South Parish, "for the purposes of a burying yard for- 
ever." " Beginning at the east corner thereof at a stake 
in Dutch's line, twelve feet southeast of the southeast 
corner of said John Baker's homestall," it was bounded 
thirteen and one-half rods on Baker's land, then seven rods 
on the west side on Dutch. It was a rectangular lot, 
13^ rods by 7. The remainder of his four acres was 
mortgaged by Dutch to William McKean (the deeds men- 
tion "about five acres ") in 1785. McKean acquired pos- 
session and sold to Dr. John Manning in 1793. 

Manning sold John Wade, a strip of "twenty-one feet 
deep and as wide as the land he had bought lately of 
Thomas Appleton " in 1794. In July of that year he sold 
the town, for £13, 10s., " twenty-two square rods of land 
lyino- on the road opposite the house of Col. Nathaniel 
Wade, beginning four feet from the easterly corner of the 
house lately owned by Joseph Appleton, Esq., deceased, 
in front toward the road and extending northerly as the 
wall now stands to a stake and stones in the training field, 



64 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

and from thence southeast to the old road, thence on the 
old bounds on the road to the first bounds mentioned, for 
the purpose of widening the road for the convenience of the 
public." It would appear from this that the road was 
much narrower then than now. 

In May, 1795, Dr. Manning sold the two Parishes a 
piece of land adjoining the burying ground, "beginning 
one rod and a half from the southeast corner of the old 
burying place in a right line toward the road, then south 
four rods, then west 20 rods, then north seven rods, 
and along the burying ground to the first bound." This 
gave the burying ground a width of fourteen rods, a depth 
of thirteen and one-half rods on the Baker line and of 
twenty rods on the southerly side. A second enlargement 
was made, not many years ago, when Rev. John Cotton 
Smith purchased the land of William Kinsman, which has 
been divided into lots on the south side of the j^ard. In 
June, 1795, Manning sold Thomas Baker an acre of land 
between the burying ground and the river, and in May of 
that year, he had sold the town for 5s, " from desire of 
accommodating the Town with a more convenient training 
field; beginning at the southeast corner of the homestead 
of the heirs of John Baker, Esq., deceased, thence south- 
east to land I lately sold the inhabitants of the Town, 
thence southwest until it comes within four rods and (> feet 
of the house formerly owned by Joseph Appleton, Esq., 
thence west northerly til it strikes the burying ground 
23 feet to the north of the southerly corner thereof, thence 
northeast to the bounds first mentioned, containing al)out 
half an acre." 

The curious antiquarian can locate these lines with ap- 
proximate accuracy, and it appears probable, that if the 
stone wall now separating the burying ground from the 
Heard estate were prolonged in the direction it runs until 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 65 

it reached well into the present highway, we should have 
the northern bound roughly traced of the original Salton- 
stall grant. The training field and Green were much 
smaller therefore than to-day. 

While this boundary of the Saltonstall estate is fresh in 
mind, attention may well be given to a claim made by the 
widow of President John Rogers, who then occupied the 
estate of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, to land now included in 
the Common or the public thoroughfare, by virtue of a 
grant of six acres made by John Winthrop in 1634. In 
the town record, under date of April 8, 1686, the entry 
is made : 

" Whereas, Mrs. Rogers claimeth part of the land with- 
out the line from the gate and stable end, upon a line to 
the land of Mr. Saltonstall's, and some land in the end 
of the now orchard before the land of William Avory's, all 
this upon the satisfaction of a grant of land to Mr. Win- 
throp of six acres of land in 1634. 

" Voted and granted that, provided that Mrs. Rogers 
give in to the Selectmen in the Town's behalf, that she 
and her heirs shall secure the Town from any further de- 
mand for satisfaction of said grant from Mr. Winthrop and 
his heirs and her and her heirs, that then the Town will 
pay to said Mrs. Rogers within one year the sum of ten 
pounds in Common pay, and she secure the Town from 
any claims of herself or her heirs, from the land on the 
outside of a straight line, from the said gate to Mr. Sal- 
tonstall's fence, formerly as the stable end stands, and 
from all the land on this end of the now orchard cov- 
ering the length of four rayles as the fence stands upon a 
square from the paile fence to William Avory's fence, 
then the said sum shall be paid by the Town." 

The original deed with seals and signatures is in the 
Town Record, and it provides "that the said land laid 



66 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

downe shall lie common and be not impropriated by any 
particular future grant to any person or persons." 

Further specification is made in the deed of " a straight 
line from the fence of Stephen Cross formerly Richard 
Saltonstall's, Esq., ranging to her gate post, and so 
stretching the length of four rails beyond the causeway 
end, and then on a square to the fence of William 
Averill's." 

The meaning must be guessed out for neither Resolu- 
tion nor Deed is luminous. I have always interpreted 
this transaction as securing the Town's title to the land 
bordering on Mr. F. T. Goodhue's property, and some 
portion of the old training field. One fact is beyond 
question. Mr. Winthrop's "six acres near the River," 
granted in 1634, included the whole or part of the fine 
open meadow belonging to the Heard estate. This be- 
longed to the Rogerses, and Rogers must have purchased 
from John Winthrop. 



THE "winthrop HOUSE," SO CALLED. 

The name of Winthrop has been associated with the 
old Burnhiim house on the ArgillaRoad, now occupied by 
Mr. Perley Lakeman, but without reason. 

In 1636-7, the town granted George Giddings about 
16 acres of land, meadow and upland, having the high- 
way to Chebacco on the northeast. In 1667, Giddings 
sold Thomas Bnrnham "my dwelling house, wherein said 
Thomas now dwelleth " and twelve acres of land, bounded 
north by Mr. .Jonathan Wade's land, west and south by 
land of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, and east }>y the highway 
leading to Chebacco. 

Giddings owned no other land on this road, and the 
bounds given locate it beyond a doubt. Generations of 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 67 

Burnhams possessed it, until the sale to the present 
owner a few years since. 

There is not a scrap of documentary evidence, known 
to me, that suggests Winthrop's ownership. As for the 
house itself, Dr. Lyon, of Hartford, an expert in olden 
architecture, pronounces it to have been built in the latter 
part of the seventeenth century or the early years of the 
followin": one. 



THE HOWARD HOUSE. 

Fronting the new stone bridge, on Turkey Shore, is 
the well preserved " Howard house " as it is sometimes 
called. Mr. Caldwell in his Notes to the Hammatt papers 
states that it was owned by Aaron Wallis, half a century 
ago. Before him Capt. Ebenezer Caldwell, who died in 
1821, was its possessor. His first wife was Lucy, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Ringe. Ringe bought the property of 
Stephen Howard, who inherited it in 1766 on the death 
of his father, Samuel Howard. Samuel bought the 
shares owned by his brothers William and John at hia 
father's, William Howard's, death. To this it may be 
added, Howard bought six acres of land with the dwelling 
in 1679 of Uzal Wardell. Susanna Ringe, the wife of 
Warden, junior, sold her father-in-law, Uzal Wardell, 
her third of her father's, Daniel Ringe's estate in 1669. 
Ringe bought of Thomas Emerson in 1648, a dwelling 
house and six acres of land by original grant. 

Is this house the same that Daniel Ringe bought in 
1648? I cannot believe it, though the deeds are contin- 
uous. The question of identity, which was stated in the 
beginning of this series of papers, is well illustrated in 
this case. The probability of such extreme antiquity is 
very slight. Judging from its architecture. Dr. Lyon be- 



68 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

lieves this house was built near the beginning of the last 
century. 

THE HO VET HOUSE. 

The ancient Hovey house, last used as a barn by Mr. 
Foss, but, unfortunately, now a thing of the past, is gen- 
erally assumed to have been built in 1668, because Daniel 
Hovey was granted permission to fell trees " for a house " 
that year. More pertinent evidence is the grant of the 
previous year, 1667, to Daniel Hovey, "to fell timber 

for a and repayring his house." A bouse that 

needed repairing in 1667 is not likely to have defied the 
tooth of Time for two hundred and twenty-seven years 
longer, and then, still stout and strong,, have suffered de- 
struction only by fire. 



THE REGINALD FOSTER ESTATE. 

The same question of identity confronts us in the fine 
old mansion, now owned by Mr. Daniel S. Burnham, on 
Water street. The pedigree of this property is beyond 
question. Charlotte Burnham, wife of Abraham, pur- 
chased half of it in 1862, from Enoch P. Fuller, He bought 
it of Nathaniel Fuller in 1840. Fuller purchased from 
Thomas Dodge in 1796, Dodge from John Holland in 
1792, Holland from John Harris in 1778. Richard Sut- 
ton and Elizabeth, his wife, sold Abner Harris, ship- 
wright, the southwest end of the dwelling house, " late 
our honored grandfather's, Jacob Foster deceased," in 
1758. Jacob Foster, father of this Jacob, I presume, re- 
ceived it from Reginald Foster. Reginald Foster bought 
of Roger Preston in 1655, a house and land reaching from 
the present Green street to Summer street. 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 69 

Again, I cannot believe this house identical with the 

house of 1655, but make no assertion as to its probable 
age. 



THE NORTON - COBBETT HOUSE. 

This fine old mansion, venerable in its architecture, 
hallowed with its association with the great and good men 
of the early days, has long been counted the most historic 
house of Ipswich, and possibly the oldest. An honest 
desire to establish its antiquity, and confirm its legendary 
renown, impelled me to very careful study of every doc- 
ument that I could discover. To my own chagrin, the 
conclusion, to which candor has impelled me, divests the 
old landmark of all its poetry, and much of its age. A 
review of the grounds leading to this may not be unin- 
teresting to those that have the love of antiquarian lore. 

In the year 1638, Thomas Firman sold Rev, John 
Norton a house and lot "which said lot was granted first 
unto Mr. John Fawne in the year 1634, " and by him 
sold to Firman. The boundaries given locate the prop- 
erty unmistakably. 

In this house, or a better one of his own building, Mr. 
Norton dwelt until he resigned his pastorate and removed 
to Boston as the successor of Rev. John Cotton. His 
successor. Rev. Mr. Cobbett, occupied his house and 
eventually purchased it. At his decease, the estate be- 
came the property of his widow. In 1696, his son John 
sold the house and three acres of land for £70 to Major 
Francis Wainwright, who owned the Robert Payne estate 
adjoining. 

After a few months ownership. Major Wainwright sold 
to John Annable " Taylor " for £24 — " A house that was 
formerly in the tenure of John Cobbett, late of Ipswich, 



70 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

with the land on which said house standeth, and also all 
the land before the said house to the street, together with 
four foot breadth from the said house at the western end 
thereof, and four foot breadth northerly from said house, 
and four foot easterly from said house, these three points 
all bounded by said Wainwnght's land and southerly by 
the Highway or Street, the westerly line that comes to said 
street to take in but half the well, and the easterly line 
to run straight from four foot of from the said house to 
the said street." March 9, 1696-7. 

Evidently Major Wainwright retained the land that 
originally belonged with the house, and a few years later 
he sold to Matthew Perkins, land and the orchard upon it, 
'lioiinded by John Baker's land on the East, the Highway 
on the South, the land of John Annible and said Wain- 
wright on the West, as the old wall formerly stood, the 
land of AVainwright on the North, as the wall stands, al»o 
the common right bought of John Cobbett." October 11, 
1701. 

The Perkins property thus lay between the old Cobbett 
house and Baker's. 

The Cobbett house with its four feet of land on three 
sides was sold by Annable to William Stone for £35 with 
Wainwright on three sides and half of the well, etc. 
March 16, 1701. 

Stone sold his house with one-quarter of an acre to Robert 
Holmes, tailor, for £40, bounded easterly by Capt. Mat- 
thew Perkins, west and north by Wainwright. January 
20, 1710-11. 

Stone had boujjht of Wainwri^jht " 3 foot in front next 
ye street joining on the westerly side of the land he bought 
of John Annable and to run until it comes to nothing at 
the north corner of said line," for £3, 12s. This he as- 
signed to Holmes on the same date, so that the western 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 71 

line was now seven feet from the house on the front, and 
included the whole well. 

Robert Holmes sold his son Robert Holmes , junior, 
taylor, "a certain parcel of land on the South East side 
of my homestead, beginning at ye easterly corner next 
Capt. Matthew Perkins his homestead and from there to 
extend North West 15 feet into my homestead, from thence 
to run on a straight line keeping equal distance from Per- 
kins's land to ye country' road, and up said road Southerly 
to ye corner of said Perkins's homestead, and by said Per- 
kins's homestead to ye bound first mentioned, as also all 
my right, title and interest in ye new end of ye dwelling 
house standing on said bounded premises." February 20, 
1732-3. 

In accordance with the terms of his father's will Robert 
Holmes, junior, succeeded to the whole estate at his 
mother's death. He enlarged the estate by purchasing 
of Thomas Staniford, innholder, for £3, a small piece of 
land adjoining the northeast side of the homestead of 
Robert Holmes, late of Ipswich, deceased, abr)ut three 
rods, bounded south by homestead, southwest and north- 
west by Staniford, northeast by land of widow Esther 
Perkins. April 10, 1742. 

Administration was granted on the estate of Robert 
Holmes to Samuel and Abigail Heard, September, 1776. 

" Samuel Heard, cordwainer, and Abigail, his wife, 
being the only child and heir of Robert Holmes, late of 
Ipswich, Taylor," for £33, 6, 8, sell "Nathaniel March, 
Taylor, a dwelling house, with small parcel of land under 
and adjoining, part of the real estate of our honored father, 
beginning at Southeast corner by land of Abraham Cald- 
well, thence by said Caldwell's land easterly, 6 rods and 
10 feet, thence northerly by land of Capt. Thomas Stani- 
ford, one rod, eleven feet and a half, thence westerly on 



72 SOME OLD IP8\TICH HOUSES. 

land of the said Abigail Heard 6 rods 10 feet, and thence 
southerly one rod, 9 J feet by Highway, also the privilege 
of using the well on the other part of deceased real es- 
tate." March 1, 1777. 

Nathaniel March sold to Nathaniel March, junior, for 
$900, the house and fifteen rods of land, bounded south- 
easterly by Daniel Russell six rods ten feet, northerly by 
Staniford one rod eleven and one-half feet, westerly by 
Abigail Heard six rods ten feet, southerly by highway one 
rod nine and one-half feet, with privilege of using the well 
on said Abigail's land ; Nathaniel and Elizabeth, his wife, 
to have the privilege of the use of the northwest room of 
said house, during their natural life. November 21, 1796. 

The portion of the Holmes property, which Samuel and 
Abigail Heard reserved when they sold the house to March, 
was sold by them to Samuel Heard, junior, and Ebenezer, 
besinnins: at the north corner on land of heirs of Staniford 
on the street, southerly by street one rod nine and one-half 
feet, to land of Nathaniel March, easterly on March's land 
six rods ten feet, northerly by Staniford's land one rod 
seven and one-half feet, westerly on Staniford's land six 
rods ten feet. May 19, 1803. Samuel, junior, and 
Ebenezer Heard sold this plot, "part of garden spot for- 
merly owned by Nathaniel March," for $30 to Elizabeth 
March. April 8, 1808. 

Nathaniel and Hannah March sold to Daniel Russell for 
$80 " a certain dwelling house with land under and adjoin- 
ing containing 15 rods, beginning at the south corner by 
highway and land of Daniel Russell, thence north west by 
said highway 1 rod 9 feet and ^ to land of Elizabeth 
March, thence northeasterly by Elizabeth's laud 6 rods 
and 10 feet to land of heirs of Thomas Staniford, thence 
south easterly 1 rod 11^ feet to land of Russell, south- 
westerly by land of Russell 6 rods 10 feet to Highway, 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 73 

being the same I purchased of my late father, Nathaniel 
March by deed November 21, 1796," and on the same 
day Elizabeth March sold the garden spot adjoining to 
Russell for $40. 

Daniel Russell sold his son, Foster Russell, for $76 "a 
certain piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in 
Ipswich aforesaid, formerly owned by Nathaniel March, 
deceased, containing 14 rods more or less, beg-inninsf at 
the soutiierly corner thereof by the highway and my own 
land, thence running north westerly 38 feet to land owned 
by the Methodist Society, thence by laud of said Society 
to land of Dr. Thomas Manning, thence south easterly by 
Manning 36 feet to my own land, thence south westerly 
by my own land to highway." August 30, 1833. 

Thus there is not a link lacking in the chain. From 
Firman and Norton, we trace the ownership of the house, 
through Cobbett, Wainwright, Amiable, Stone, the 
Holmeses, and the Marches to Daniel Russell. Russell 
bought the house and land in 1818. In 1833, he sold the 
land to Foster Russell, but there is no mention of any 
house. Evidently it had disappeared. 

But what of the old house still standino-? 

It is well remembered that Richard Sutton owned the 
southeast half of this dwelling, and Daniel Russell the 
northwest half. Russell bought his half of Abraham 
Caldwell of Beverly in 1796, bounded northwesterly 
partly on land of Nathaniel March, southeasterly on land 
of Richard Sutton. 

Caldwell purchased of Samuel Sawyer in 1772, Robert 
Holmes abutting on the northwest. Ephraim Kindall 
bought this half of Jonathan Newmarsh in 1768, who 
bought of Benjamin Brown in 1762. Brown acquired it 
in 1754, by purchase, of William Dodge, of Lunenburg, 
and Esther, his wife, and Samuel Williams, junior. 



74 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

Dodsre's deed recites that the line of division beginning 
at a stake by land of Robert Holmes, extends to a stake 
standing in the middle of the homestead of Capt. Matthew 
Perkins, late of Ipswich, thence southwesterly to a stake, 
thence northvvesterl}- twenty-two feet through the middle 
of the curb of the well to a stake standing near, thence 
southwesterly through the dwelling house and middle of 
the chimney to the street, with one-half the dwelling, 
with all privileges, etc., settled by a Commission ap- 
pointed and impowered by the Court of Probate to divide 
the estate of said Matthew Perkins to and among his two 
daughters, Esther Harbin and Mary Smith, according to 
his will. Williams sold the interest he bought of William 
Harbin. 

Among the tiled papers relating to the estate of Capt. 
Matthew Perkins, we find the divisions of the real estate 
between Esther Harbin and Mary Smith in 1749. Esther 
received the northwest half, the division line being de- 
fined word by word as in the deed of Dodge to Brown. 
Mary received the southeast half. Esther left her estate 
to her four children to whom it was apportioned in 1752. 
Her heirs sold to Brown . 

Capt. Matthew Perkins, we observed at the beginning, 
bought the Norton-Cobbett orchard in 1701. Between 
that date and 1709, he built the house, for in the latter 
year he gave his son Matthew his former homestead, low- 
er down the street. 

The present old house is, therefore, Capt. Matthew Per- 
kins' mansion, and the Norton-Cobbett house stood very 
near on the northwest side, but has long since disap- 
peared. 

Every item of evidence corroborates this identification. 
The successive deeds of the old Cobbett property men- 
tion Captain Matthew, the widow Esther Perkins, Abra- 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 75 

ham Caldwell and Daniel Russell as eastern abutters. 
The deeds of the present house mention Holmes and March 
as western neighbors. The well of the present house is 
precisely where the deeds locate it ; the Cobbett well was 
on the west side of the house. This house stands near 
the road ; the other must have stood back somewhat, as 
the land covered by the house with only four feet on each 
of three sides and the frontage measured about a quarter 
of an acre. 

The present Foster Russell house, by the measurements 
of the deeds, occupies a part of the site of the old one. 
Finally, Mrs. Susan Lakeman, the daughter of the late 
Daniel Russell, was born in the Perkins' mansion in 1815. 
She remembers distiuctly that it was always said that her 
father tore down an old house close by in 1818, called 
"the March house." lu that year he bought the proper- 
ty of Nathaniel March. 

As to the old Cobl)ett well, it is beyond question iden- 
tical with the well that still remains in the cellar of the 
Foster Russell house, which served as a public waterini^ 
place for many years, I ara informed, before the house 
was built, and still supplies Mr. Augustine Spiller by a 
pipe that pierces the cellar wall. 



THE JOHN POTTER HOUSE. 

The well-preserved old mansion beneath the spreading 
elms on the corner of East street and "Hog Lane," as the 
ancient nickname was,—'' Brooke Street " as it is recorded 
in the old deeds, — is of much interest. 

This lot was owned in 1648 by Francis eTordan, the 
town-whipper, whose gruesome business it was to wield 
the lash and lay it smartly upon the backs of evil-doers, 



76 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

at the public whipping-post. In 1655, there was a house 
here, occupied by Jeffrey Skelling or SntHing, a man of 
questionable character, who tasted the lash more than 
once. I can hardly believe that a man of his prtjclivities 
was likely to occupy so fine a house. 

Richard Belcher of Charlcstown sold, to John Potter, 
for £88, in 1708, the two acres in this corner, with all the 
buildings, including the "old house, new out-houses, etc." 
The mention of an " old house " at this date renders it 
very improbable that the present building was then in 
existence. 

A few years ago, the slope of the hill on the east side of 
the present house was dug away, and an old cellar was 
disclosed. Two old spoons of a style in vogue prior to 
1700 were found. Very likely this was the site of the 
old Francis Jordan property, and John Potter probably 
built the present mansicm sul)sequent to 1708. 



SOME OLD HIGH-STREET DWELLINGS. 

A few more old mansions, on High street, must not be 
overlooked. Here again that question of identity dis- 
turbs us in the case of the old Caldwell house. 

Richard Betts sold to Cornelius Waldo, for £30, his 
dwelling house, land, etc., in 1652. Waldo sold the 
same property to John Caldwell, in 1654 for £26. Jiihn 
Caldwell's estate, about the year 1692, was inventoried, 
the house, land at home and three acres of other land at 
£109. This three-acre lot is probably identical with the 
"four acres, be it more or less, within the Ctmimon fields, 
neare unto Muddy River," which he bought of William 
Buckley, and which Buckley had bought for £7 of Thomas 
Manning in 1657. The homestead was valued, then, at 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 77 

about a hundred pounds sterling. Caldwell bought it for 
£26, occupied it some forty years, and left it worth £100. 
It has been said that record remains of enlargement, etc. , 
but repairs and enlargement sufficient to enhance the 
value nearly four times must have been very destructive 
of the original Waldo house, I fear. It is more likely 
that Caldwell built the present house, and its architecture 
points to the latter years of the seventeenth century as 
the time of its erection. 

The tine mansion, lately purchased and improved by 
Mr. John E. Brown, is the colonial home Rev. Nathaniel 
Rogers built for himself in 1727-8. 

The very old house, the home of Mr. Caleb Lord, until 
his death, and its larger neighbor, the old Jacob Manning 
house, atJbrd a very fascinating study. Mr. Lord in- 
formed me that this house was owned by his father, 
"Capt. Nat.," and his predecessor was "Deacon Caleb." 
Caleb Lord, Hatter, and Daniel Low, bought it with 
eighteen rods of laud in 1751, of Job Harris. Hams 
bought the dwelling, barn, and two and three-fourths 
acres of land of Rev. Jabez Fitch, when he left the pas- 
torate of the Ipswich First Church in 1727 and went to 
Portsmouth. There was at this time but one dwelling on 
this goodly lot of nearly three acres. Harris sold Caleb 
Lord the house, etc., "at the north corner of the home- 
stead," but he resided still in another house on the same 
lot and, in 1770, bequeathed his son John the southerly 
half of his dwelling. The other heirs sold out to John 
in 1772. John Harris sold to the town, in 1795, about 
two acres with the buildings. This purchase was made to 
secure a Poor-house, and consideral)le changes were made 
then and later to fit it for its new use. Mr. Caleb Lord 
remembers that the door was on the end toward the street. 

When the town purchased the present Poor Farm, this 
property was sold to Jacob Manning, jr., in May, 1818. 



78 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

The deed describes it, as the work-house and land, "be- 
ginning at tiie corner of Nathaniel Lord's hmd, 12 feet 1 
inch from his shop, on said Higii street East to land of 
heirs of Jan)es Harris deceased, Westerly 5 rods 12^ links 
to land this day conveyed to Lord, i. e. wood house and 
turf or peat house, and the pump with the rigging and 
gear thereto belonging, also reserving to John Lord 4th, 
liberty to remove the building called the pest house and 
chimney and underpinning stones." 

This is the large house on the south corner of Manning 
street. I think that Job Harris built it for his new resi- 
dence and then sold the older Fitch house to Caleb Lord. 
This surmise is confirmed by the purchase that Mr. Fitch 
made of about four rods of land on the back side of his 
house from Francis Young in 1708. It was a piece one 
rod wide from the land or house of Mr. Fitch, and ex- 
tended in a straight line one rod broad to the northerly 
end of his barn or woodhouse. This shows that the Fitch 
house occupied the extreme corner of the lot. This land 
may have been needed for the enlargement that has been 
made on this side. Mr. Fitch bono;ht the house with an 
acre and a half of land of William Payne and his wife 
Mary, the onl}^ daughter of William Stewart, deceased, in 
the year 1704, for £150. In 17 19, he enlarged the lot 
by purchasing an acre of Thomas and Alexander Lovell 
fronting on the street and joining his land on the south. 

Stewart bought of Roger Derby, who had removed to 
Salem in 1692. Derby or Darby bought a house and two 
acres of Philip Fowler in 1672, and in 1652 John Hassell 
owned a house here. Hassell was the original grantee. 
Again the query arises, who was the builder of the present 
decrepit dwelling? Certainly it was owned by Job Harris 
and there is no reason for doubting Fitch's ownership, or 
even Stewart's. Beyond Stewart, or possibly Derby, I 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. ' 79 

do not venture, hut there is no absolute limit, save that it 
is incredil)le that it was Hassell's original house. 

I wonder if Stewart occupied this house before he 
bought it? If he did, peculiar interest attaches to the 
narrative of John Dunton, a book pedler, who visited 
Ipswich, in the course of his saddle-bag peregrinations, in 
1685 or 1686. In any event, the gossipy description of 
the Stewarts will not be unwelcome. Dunton wrote to his 
wife, minutely enough to satisfy her womanly curiosity, 
after this fashion : 

"My Landlady, Mrs. Wilkins, having a sister at Ips- 
wich which she had not seen for a great while, Mrs. Com- 
fort, her daughter (a young gentlewoman equally happy 
in the perfections both of her body and mind), had a 
great desire to see her aunt, having never been at her 
house, nor in that part of the country ; which Philaret 
having a desire to see, and being never backward to 
accomodate the Fair Sex, profers his service to wait upon 
her thilher, which was readily accepted by the young 
lady, who felt herself safe undei his protection. Nor 
were her parents less willing to trust her with him. All 
things being ready for our ramble, I took my fair one up 
behind me and rid on our way, I and my Fair Fellow 
Traveller to Mr. SteAvard's whose wife was Mrs. Comfort's 
own Aunt : whose J(iy to see her Niece at Ipswicli was 
suiEciently Expressed by the Noble Reception we met 
with and the Treatment we found there ; which far outdid 
whate'er we cou'd have thought. And tho myself was 
but a stranger to them, yet the extraordinary civility and 
respect they shewed me, gave me reason enough to think 
I was very welcome. It was late when we came thither, 
and we were both very weary, which yet would not 
excnse us from the troul)le of a very splendid su[)per, 
before I was permitted to go to bed ; which was got ready 



80 SOME OLD IPSWIGH HOUSES. 

in 80 short a time as would have made us think, had we 
not known the contrary, that it had been ready provided 
against we came. Though our supper was extraordinary 
yet I had so great a desire to go to bed, as made it to me 
a troublesome piece of kindness. But this being happily 
over, I took my leave of my Fellow Traveller, and was 
conducted to my apartment by Mrs. Stewart herself, 
whose character I shant attempt to-night, being so weary, 
but reserve till to-morrow morning. Only I must let you 
know that my apartment was so noble and the furniture 
so sjiital)le to it, that I doubt not but even the King him- 
self has oftentimes been contented with a worser lodging. 

"Having reposed my self all night upon a bed of Down, 
I slept so very soundly that the Sun, who lay not on so 
soft a bed as I, had got the start of me, and risen before 
me ; but was so kind however as to make me one of his 
first visits, and to give me the bon jour ; on which I 
.straight got up and dressed myself, having a mind to look 
about me and see where I was : and having took a view 
of Ipswich, I found it to be situated by a river, whose first 
rise from a Lake or Pond was twenty miles up, breaking 
of its course through a hideous swamp for many miles, a 
a harbor for bears ; it issueth forth into a large bay, where 
they fish for whales, due East over against the Island of 
Sholes, a great place for fishing. The mouth of that river 
is barred. It is a good haven town. Their Meeting 
House or church is built very beautifully. There is a 
store of orchards and gardens about it, and good land for 
Cattel and husbandry. 

" But I remember I promised to give you Mrs. Stewards 
Character, & if I hadn't yet gratitude and justice would 
exact it of me. Her stature is of a middle size, fit for a 
woman. Her face is still the magazine of beauty, whence 
she may fetch artillery enough to Wound a thousand lov- 



SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 81 

ers ; and when she was about 18, perhaps there never was 
a face more sweet and charming — nor could it well ])e 
otherwise, since now at 33, all you call sweet and ravish- 
ing is in her Face ; which it is as great a Pleasure to be- 
hold as a perpetual sunshine without any clouds at all ; 
and 3'et all this sweetness is joined with such attractive 
vertue as draws all to a certain distance and there detains 
them with reverence and admiration, none ever daring to 
approach her nigher, or having power to go farther off. 
She's so obliging, courteous and civil as if those qualities 
were only born with her, and rested in her bosom as their 
centre. Her speech and her Behaviour is so gentle, sweet 
and affable, that whatsoever men may talk of magick there 
in none charms but she. So good a wife she is, she frames 
her nature to her husband's : the hyacinth follows not the 
Sun more willingly, than she her husband's i»leasure. Her 
household is her charge. Her care to that makes her but 
seldom a non-resident. Her pride is to be neat and cleanly, 
and her thirst not to be Prodigal. And to conclude is 
both wise and religious, which makes her all I have said 
before. 

" In the next place I suppose yourself will think it rea- 
sonable that unto Mrs. Stewards I should add her husband's 
Character : whose worth and goodness do well merit. As 
to his stature tis inclining to tall : and as to his aspect, 
if all the lineaments of a sincere and honest hearted man 
were lost out of the world, they might be all retrieved by 
looking on his face. He's one whose bounty is limited by 
reason, not by ostentation; and to make it last he deals 
discreetly ; as we sowe our land not by the sack but by 
the handful. He is so sincere and upright that his \vord 
and his meaning never shake hands and part, but always 
go together. His mind is always so serene that that 
thunder but rocks him asleep which breaks other men's 



82 SOME OLD IPSWICH HOUSES. 

slumbers. His thoughts have an aim as high as heaven, 
tho their residence be in the Valley of an humble heart. 
He is not much given to talk, tho he knows how to do it 
as well as any man. He loves his friend, and will do 
anything for him except it be to wink at his faults, of 
which he will be always a severe reprover. He is so good 
a husband that he is worthy of the wife he enjoys, and 
would even make a bad wife good by his example. 

"Ipswich is a country town not very large, and when a 
stranger arrives, tis quickly known to every one. It is 
no wonder then that the next day after our arrival the 
news of it was carried to Mr. Hubbard, the Minister of 
the town, who hearing that I was the person that had 
brought over a great Venture of Learning, did me the 
honor of making me a visit at Mr. Steward's, where I laj^ 
and afterwards kindly invited me and my fellow traveller 
to his own house, where he was pleased to give us very 
handsome entertainment. His writing of the History of 
Indian Warrs shews him to be a person of good parts and 
understanding. He is a sober, grave and well accom- 
plished man — a good preacher (as all the town affirm, 
for I didn't hear him) and one that lives according to his 
preaching. 

"The next day 1 was for another Ramble in which Mr. 
Steward was pleas'd to accompany me. And the place we 
went to was a town call'd Rowley, lying six miles North- 
East from Ipswich, where most of the Inhabitants had 
been Clothiers. There was that Day a great Game of 
Foot Ball to be playd, which was the occasion of our 
going thither : There was another Town that playd against 
them, as is sometimes Common in England : but they 
played with their bare feet which I thought was very odd : 
but was upon abroad Sandy Shoar free from Stones, which 
made it more easie. Neither were they so apt to trip up 



SOME OLD IP8WICH HOUSES. 83 

one anothers heels, and quarrel as I have seen em in Eng- 
land." 

With this bit of romance, I conclude my present study of 
the old houses of Ipswich. Many more remain to be 
investigated, and unsuspected rewards may await the 
diligent student. In due time I ho))e every old dwelling 
will have its history carefully written. 

My aim has been not so much to exhaust the field, for 
this is impossible, nor to pronounce final judgments, as 
to illustrate the only sure way of approximating the truth. 
The work nmst be done cautiously and candidly, with a 
mind open to the truth, however sharp the conflict with 
cherished traditions or deei)ly seated prejudices. Kesort 
must always be made to original documents. Regard must 
be had to inherent probabilities. Results obtained by the 
application of this method may fairl}' be considered a con- 
tribution to the permanent history of our town. 

The conclusion to which we must come is that many 
houses are not as old as they have been thought ; that 
many substantial houses have passed away ; that the his- 
tory of one house is very easily transferred to another ; 
that tradition is very unhistoric ; that definite decision is 
impossible in many cases ; but that, after all allowance is 
made, a remarkable number of ancient dwellings, still in 
use, were built in the earlier half of the last century, and 
a few remain from the closing decades of the seventeenth 
century, which were built l^efore all the pioneers who 
knew Winthrop, and cleared the wilderness and built the 
town, had passed away. 



INDEX OF HOUSES, 

WITH NAME OF PRESENT OWNER, OR THAT BY WHICH IT IS 
COMMONLY KNOWN. 



PAGE 

Abbey, Joseph, house. . . . . . . 55, 56 

(Mr. Wesley K. Bell's old house) 

Appleton. Col. John 47 

(Mr. Geo. D. Wildes's residence) 

Appleton, Joseph, 62 

Baker, Joseph, 50 

Baker, iSamuel N., . . . . . . . 63 

Boyuton, Warren, ...... 53 

(Ross Tavern) 

Brown, John B., 77 

Burnham, Daniel S., . . . . . . 68 

Caldwell, John, 76 

Campbell, Chas. A., 39 

Choate, Col. John, 62 

Dana, Rev. Joseph, ....... 61 

(Mr. Frank T. Goodhue's residence) 

Dean, 55 

Dounton, Wm., . 42 

Duuton's, John, narrative, 79-83 

Fitts, Isaac, ........ 83 

(Souther house) 

(84) 



INDEX. 85 

PAGE 

Foot-Briclge. 54 

Foster, Reginald, 68 

(Mr. Dan. S. Burnham's residence) 

Fuller, Nath., 56 

(Mrs. Susan Trow's late residence) 

Goodhue, Frank T., 61 

Howard, Wm.,. ....... 67 

Hovey, Daniel, 68 

Jones, Wm., ........ 57 

(Mr. Edward Ready's residence) 

Kinsman, Wm,, ....... 43 

Lord, Dea. Caleb, 77 

Lord, Jonathan, ....... 57 

Manning, Dr. Joseph, ...... 57 

(Mr. Josiah Stackpole's residence) 

Mill, Garden, 45 

Nortou-Cobbett, so called, 69-75 

Norton. Dea. Thos., 58. 59 

Poor, house. High St., ..... . 77 

(Jacob Manning house) 

Potter, John, ....... 75 

Potter, Mrs. Rhoda B., 60 

Proctor, John, ....... 51 

Ready, Edward, ....... 57 

Rogers, Rev. Xath 77 

(Mr. John B. Brown's residence) 

Ross Tavern, ........ 53 



86 



INDKX. 



Saltonstall, Richard, 

South Burying Ground, 

South Common, .... 

Souther, Timothy, .... 

Sparks's Ordinary, 

Stackpole, Josiah, .... 

Training-field, .... 
Tread well Tavern, .... 

(Joseph Baker house) 
Trow, Mrs Susan, 

Wade, Col. Nath., .... 
Wainwright, Christian, . 

Wells, Thos., 

Whipple, John, .... 

(called the Saltonstall house) 

Wildes, Geo. D 

Wiuthrop, John (so-called), 





PAGE 


44, 


45, 


58 




63, 


64 


• 


65, 


66 
56 
48 
57 

64 
50 



56 

60 
51 
53 
44 

47 

66 



Younglove, Samuel, Senior, 



52 



MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEP:TING AND 
KEPORTS OF OFFICERS. 



The annual meeting of the Ipswich Historical Society 
was held in the Parish House, Monday evening, Dec. 6, 
and although not so largely attended as it might have been 
it was nevertheless a very enthusiastic gathering. A great 
deal in the advancement of the Society's interest was ac- 
complished and several new and important lines of work 
started. 

President Waters called the meeting to order and the 
reports of Treasurer J. I. Horton, Secretary John H. 
Cogswell and President Waters, were read and accepted. 
The reports are given in full below. Mr. Waters' paper 
was a valuable historical addition to the society's reports 
and he was warmly commended for the same. 

The purchase of a permanent location in the " Whipple 
House," at railroad square, was talked of, and a com- 
mittee of three, George A. Lord, Fred A. Willcomb and 
J. I. Horton, were chosen to inquire into the feasibility 
of the plan. 

The President was instructed to appoint a committee of 
five on membership, to consist in part of ladies. Mr. 
Gates moved that a committee of ladies be chosen in the 
same way to take charge of the rooms on certain after- 
noons in the w eek. He suggested that in summer particu- 
larly quite an income could be secured by keeping the 
rooms open and charging a small admission fee. 

(87) 



88 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

Proceed i no; to the election of officers tlie old board was 
reelected as follows : 

President, Rev. T. Frank Waters. 

Vice Presidents, Hon. C. A. Say ward and Hon. Fred 
A. Willcomb. 

Secretary, John H. Cogswell. 

Corresponding Secretary, Rev. M. H. Gates. 

Treasnrer, J. I. Horton. 

Librarian, M. V. B. Perley. 

The question of securing lecturers for the season of 
1897-8 was discussed, and the chair was instructed to 
select a committee of four to look after this matter, the 
president to be a member ex oficio. Mr. Waters ap- 
pointed Rev. Mr. Gates, Rev. Mr. Constant and Messrs. 
Kavanagh and Hovey. 

It was voted that the reports of the meeting be printed 
after the usual manner of the Society's publications. These 
reports follow : 

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT. 

Our Society has assumed for itself a three-fold function : 
that of gathering material for our Historical Exhi])ition, 
of contributing through its publications to the general 
fund of historical knowledge, and of erecting memorials 
of striking events and distinguished citizens of the olden 
time. 

A beginning at least has been made in each department, 
and gratifying growth is seen in the size and variety of 
our exhibit in the room in Odd Fellows' Block. Already 
the floor is well occupied, and the cabinets are comfort- 
ably filled. Some of the articles given or loaned during 
the past year are of striking interest, and we may count 
ourselves most fortunate in possessing them. Most ven- 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 89 

erable of all is the pair of great andirons, with well- 
worn knobs, on which the date 

115 



9|6 



is still visible, though the wear of so many generations 
has nearly obliterated the uppor figures. The smaller 
figures, which now occupy the place of the upper two, 
were stamped some fifty years ago, to preserve the date, 
but the original 1 and 5 are not wholly effaced. Accom- 
panying the andirons are the huge spit some four feet long, 
and the skewers used in fastening the great roasts securely 
to the spit. These have belonged to successive genera- 
tions of the Shatswell family, and are still owned by 
descendants of that line, Mr. Robert Stone and Colonel 
Shatswell. How much romance attaches to these ancient 
fireirons ! They were hammered out by some blacksmith 
of Old England, while Queen Elizabeth was hunting and 
dancing and coquetting as in her youth, but England had 
grown serious and Puritanical under the pressure of the 
great Puritan awakening. Spenser's Faerie Queen had 
delighted the English-speaking world only six years be- 
fore, and three years only had elapsed since the first gleam 
of the great light that Shakespeare shed, presaged his 
coming glory. John Milton was not born until these 
andirons had done twelve years of humble service in some 
English kitchen, and they were blackened with the soot 
of thirty-two years when John Bunyan saw the light. 
Oliver Cromwell began his grand career as humbly as 
any babe in 1599. The excellent John Winthrop, to 
whom our Commonwealth owes so much, was a boy of 
eight when these irons were used for the first time, and 
they had been used ten years when John Winthrop, jr., 
our patron, was born. The Plymouth settlement was far 



90 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

in the future. No i)rophet had dreamed of this great 
Western empire. How the history of nations and of 
peoples has been wrought and fashioned since the English 
smith shaped these ancient irons ! 

And with the andirons came an old "box-iron," another 
heirloom of the Shatswells, which may be of equal age. 
Of later date and yet venerable with years, the Sliatswell 
spinning wheel claims our regard. This was the maiden 
property of Hannah Bradstreet, of Rowley, the bride of 
Richard Shatswell in 1751. It is a tradition in the family 
that the north end of the present Shatswell mansion was 
built for the home of the young couple, and that when 
the frame was raised, the bride-to-be drove the first pin, 
and had a conspicuous place in the festivities incident to 
the "raising." 

When the Revolutionary war was impending, Richard 
Shatswell was under suspicion of being a Tory, as the 
story runs. ' Flis spirited wife rebelled in her turn against 
the i)atriotic prohibition of tea. She loved her cup, and 
as she had laid in a plentiful supply while the forbidden 
commodity was still in the market, she continued to use 
it, while every other tea-table contented itself with some 
innocent substitute. The town officials waited upon her 
to remonstrate against her unpatriotic indulgence. She 
received them graciously and satisfied them that no trea- 
son lurked in her love of the obnoxious herl). A few 
months later her daughter appeared in meeting on a Sab- 
bath day in a new bonnet of exceptional elegance, which 
provoked another visit from the fathers of the town, but 
tiie mother convinced them again that nothing savoring of 
toryism dwelt in the gay finery of the damsel. "Two 
years passed away," the family chronicler writes, " and the 
daughter Hannah had found a lover. It was the begin- 
ning of winter. The army had just gone into winter 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 91 

quarters and the young suitor was daily expected home. 
Wishing to appear well in his eyes, the maiden had spun 
and woven with her own hands a new linen dress from 
flax raised upon the homestead ; and some ribbons long 
hild aside had been washed and ironed to trim it. The 
damsel appeared in it at church after her lover's arrival. 
Here was fresh cause of alaru) and forthwith on Monday 
morning came the officious committee to protest against 
the extravagance. The old lady's spirit was now aroused. 
"Do you come here," was her well remembered repW, 
" do you come here to take me to task because my daugh- 
ter wore a gown she spun and wove with her own hands? 
Three times have you interfered with my family affairs, 
three times have you come to tell me that my husband 
would be turned out of his office. Now, mark me ! There 
is the door. As you came in you may go out. But if you 
ever cross my threshold again you shall find that calling 
Hannah Bradstreet a tory will not make her a coward." 

On this wheel, the tradition is, the maiden of '76 did 
her spinning and it continued to be indispensable to the 
housekeeping of later good dames until all spinning 
wheels rested from their labors and found their heaven of 
rest in the attics of the houses, wherein they had filled an 
honored place in earlier years. 

The quaint old sign of Corporal Foster, that hung many 
years before his hostelry on the old Boston Turnpike in 
Linebrook, is now our piop(>rty by the kind gift of Mr. 
Fred H. Plouff. In after years it became a gate at the 
entrance to Mr. Edward Plouff's, son-in-law of the Cor- 
poral. While serving this base purpose it was painted to 
match the dwelling, but swung in the wind and rain until 
the ancient lettering again appeared. Old and decrepit, 
bruised and battered, it came at last to our kindly haven, 
but now restored with loving fidelity to its original col- 



»S5 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

oring, it has " renewed its youth like the eagle," and 

clearly as in the day when the Corporal's masterpiece was 

first displayed it declares the two-fold business of the 

smithy and hostelry in its quaint rhyme : 

" I shoe the horse, 
I shoe the ox, 
I carry the tools 
Within my box. 
I make the nails, 
I make the shoe 
And entertain 
Some strangers too." 

The restored punch bowl again suggests the good cheer 
of the tap-room, and the date, 1806, is warrant of its 
venerable age. 

Mr. Thomas Edward Roberts has presented us with two 
especially valuable relics. While working in his early 
manhood with his father, the late Thomas Roberts, a mas- 
ter builder, in erecting a business block in Boston on High 
street, near Summer, the house near by, occupied by 
Daniel Webster for years, was cleared of its contents 
preliminary to Mr. Webster's removal to Marshfield. The 
major-domo requested Mr. Roberts to help him handle 
sundry large and heavy boxes and bundles, and to requite 
this service he pulled down an engraving of Webster from 
its place on the library wall and gave him, and handed him 
also an old portable desk with the remark, "You will do 
well, young man, if you travel as far as this desk has. Mr. 
Webster always took this with him in his chaise." Desk 
and engraving now adorn our room, and a third Webster 
relic was already in our hands, a fine linen towel, which 
was spun and woven by his mother in the New Hampshire 
home. 

A fine old chest with frame of English oak has been 
contributed by Mr. John Sherburne. 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 93 

The old Denisoii Light Infantry flag has pleasant com- 
pany now in the flintlock musket and bayonet, cartridge 
box and belts, and cap with wa^dng plume, worn by the 
late Asa Kinsman a half century ago, the gift of Gustavus 
Kinsman. 

The Treadwell's island shell heap has yielded other hu- 
man remains for our prehistoric relics, including a skull, 
found in many fragments, which the skill of Dr. Stock- 
well has restored so far that we can see its general shape, 
and discover the mark of the two deadly blows which 
brought the relief of death, perhaps, to some long-tortured 
sufiierer. 

Mr. Richard M. Saltonstall has contributed a sumptuous 
volume of Saltonstall Genealogy, and Mr. Robert C. 
Winthrop has given repeated evidences of his regard in 
the gift of many valuable volumes. Miss Joanna Cald- 
well has deposited a very valuable collection of family 
documents. Many other articles have been deposited in 
our care, and in recognition of the kindness of the do- 
nors, I submit a list of names of all who have contributed 
to our success in this manner. 

The room has been open to the public every Saturday 
afternoon with two or three exceptions during the year. 
Many strangers found their way thither in the vacation 
months, and many of our townspeople, especially the 
children, have come to show their interest. A Visitors* 
Book has been kept, and six hundred and eighty names 
have been recorded. Many have registered more than 
once, but others have made no entry, and this large num- 
ber is a fairly correct indication of the number of visitors 
since Dec. 13, 1896. 

The publications of the Society have been increased by a 
single pamphlet containing the addresses at the dedication 
of the Memorial Tablets and the annual reports. Another 



94 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

of larger size will soon be placed in the hands of our 
mem)>ers. It is a matter of regret that the limited funds 
of our Society prevent it from undertaking the work of 
publishing old records and valuable documents, as well as 
original contributions to our local history. 

The marking of historic spots is an inviting work, and 
one that should be accomplished as speedily as possible. 
A generous meml^er of the Society has already signified 
his desire of erecting suitable markers on the site of the 
residence of John Winthrop and that of Ann Bradstreet, 
as soon as the localities shall be determined with reasonable 
probability. Denison's place of residence is easily iden- 
tified. Elder Paine deserves recognition for his munifi- 
cent gift of the first school house of which we know. 
Deputy Governor Symonds' Argil la f:irm house was a 
notable place in its day. Its site is accurately known and 
should be marked. A memorial, worthy of Rev. John 
Wise and the brave co-patriots of 1687, should find place 
anions: us. Their resistance to Governor Andros has ffiven 
rise to the legend on our town seal. The town owes them 
a larger debt of gratitude than can be discharged in this 
simple fashion. 

In line with this work, the preservation of old land- 
marks may be included. Many of the most interesting 
old houses have disappeared, and the death-knell of (others 
may be sounded ere we are aware of any danger. Our 
town owes no small portion of its great and growing at- 
tractiveness to strangers to its venerable mansions. A 
cultivated young lady, from Detroit, Mich., came here 
during the sunmier in the course of an historical pilgrim- 
age to towns of historical renown, particularly to those 
with which hei* own ancestral history was interwoven. 
After seeing our places of interest, and the many old 
houses with lean-to roofs and great chimney-stacks, she 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 95 

exclaimed, "I have just visited Plymouth and Concord 
and Lexington and other places, but I have nowhere found 
so many residences of venerable age, and the beauty of 
the town charms me." 

Hezekiah Butterworth, the author of many books of 
travel, and romances founded on historic facts, spent a 
few hours in surveying our old landmarks, and as we sat 
on the top of our beautiful Town Hill, after looking at the 
ancient gravestones in the quiet yard, he gazed at the 
splendid landscape and said with much earnestness, "I 
have been amid the mountains of our own land, and among 
the Alps and the Andes, I have lived years in Europe, I 
have seen more sublime views, but I know of no more 
varied and beautiful quiet rural scenery than this." 

One of our old houses, the very oldest in all probabil- 
ity, is fast falling into complete decay, the old Whipple 
house, as I must call it, now owned by Mr. James W. 
Bond. In its day it was a grand mansion, and some of its 
rooms are inspiring to-day even in their ruin. Is it not 
worth our while as a Society to purchase it if it be possi- 
ble, and repair and restore it to some semblance of its old 
self? It possesses rare interest as a specimen of the 
architecture of the later 17th century. Dr. Lyon, of 
Hartford, Conn., an expert admirer of olden architec- 
ture, has visited it again and again. The most careless 
sight-seer is impressed with its antiquity. It should })e 
rescued from utter ruin for its own intrinsic value. 

But apart from this, our room will soon he too small for 
exhibition purposes. If space were available, it would 
be well used with exhibits of tools and machiner}^ of an- 
tiquated pattern, with cumbrous articles of domestic fur- 
niture, and with many departments of our historical 
collection, in which a beginning should be made. This 
old house, with its hallowed memories, so broad and capa- 



96 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

cious, would be an admirable home for our Society. It 
is a wooden edifice to be sure, but a larffe vault might be 
constructed for the most precious heirlooms. If some 
generous and broad-minded friend of the Society and of 
the town were minded to erect for us a fire-proof building 
of brick or stone, that would bo our ideal. But such a 
structure exists as yet only in our dreams. This old man- 
sion is not beyond our reach, and it has the fine attributes 
of age and yize. Once housed within its venerable walls, 
with our collection of andiron.s, and all the appurtenances 
of the fire-place in their proper places, with kitchen and 
parlor and chamber supplied with proper furniture, with 
room for many collections, our Society would spring at 
once into conspicuous honor and usefulness. 

Respectfully submitted, 
T. Frank Waters. 

REPORT OF THE SECRKTARY, DEC. 6, 1897. 

On the evening of December 7, 1896, the annual meeting 
of the Historical Society was held at the Society's room 
in the Odd Fellows Building. 

The President gave an interesting review of the work 
of the Society during the year, enumerating the many 
gifts which had been made, and closing with an euloof}' on 
Mr. John Perkins who had died durino; the year. His 
remarks on Mr. Perkins were supplemented by Mr. Nourse, 
who moved that a committee be appointed to draft reso- 
lutions expressing our appreciation of Mr. Perkins as a 
man and a citizen. The committee appointed were J. W. 
Nourse, T. F. Waters and Joseph I. Horton, who reported 
the following resolution which was unanimouslj^ adopted 
by the Society: "The recent departure of our brother 
John Perkins has reminded the Ipswich Historical Society 
of the first loss in its membership, through death. 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 97 

"As the name which he bore was the first name of a 
person written in our town records and has been associa- 
ted with the town in each generation from its beginning, 
so those virtues that are first in the malting of good 
citizens, and that give efficiency to all forms of social 
organization, are found continually illustrated in his life. 
Brother Perkins possessed, in a marked degree, self- 
control, loyalty, brotherly kindness and patriotism. 

" Therefore be it Resolved : That we will cherish the 
quality of citizenship of which he gave us so fine an ex- 
ample ; and, while we lament his departure, we will enter 
this minute upon our records in grateful memory of his 
too brief association with us." 

After listening to the reports of the Treasurer and 
Secretary (which were adopted), the Society proceeded to 
the election of officers for the ensuing year as follows : — 
President T. F. Waters, Vice Presidents Hon. Chas. A. 
Sayward and Hon. Frederick Willcomb, Treasurer Joseph 
I. Horton, Corresponding Secretary Milo H. Gates, 
Recording Secretary John H. Cogswell, Librarian Martin 
V. B. Perley. 

The Society has had during the past year five lectures : 
the first, by Hon. Robert S. Rantoul of Salem, was given 
in the Parish House January 22, on the " First Cotton 
Mill in America" which he claimed was situated in North 
Beverly near the Old Baker Tavern, and the famous well 
from which Washington drank while on his triumphal 
tour through New England. It has been claimed that the 
First Cotton Mill in America was established by Samuel 
Slater in 1791, at Pawtucket, R. I.; but Mr. Rantoul 
proved by clear and conclusive testimony that a year 
before Mr. Slater set foot in America, cloth and corduroy 
were manufactured at the Mill in North Beverly. Cotton 
at that time could not be obtained in this country but was 



98 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING AND 

imported from Barbadoes, Surinam and Pernambuco. Mr. 
Rimtotil gave a minute description of the Mill and ex- 
hibited a picture of the Mill and its surroundings. The 
building was destroyed by fire in October 1828. At the 
close of the address Mr. Rantoul was given a hearty vote 
of thanks, and the President supplemented the lecture by 
stating that Israel Thorndike, one of the owners of this 
primitive mill, married the daughter of Dr. Joseph Dana, 
for many years pastor of the South Church in this 
town. 

February 8th we again assembled in the Parish House 
to listen to an address from Geo. G. Russell of Salem, on 
Andersonville Prison. Mr. Russell enlisted at the age of 
sixteen and saw many years of fighting and hardship. He 
was taken prisoner May 6, 1864, and confined in Ander- 
sonville, and other rebel prisons. His description of the 
horrors of these " earthly hells " was most thrilling and he 
richly deserved the hearty vote of thanks which he re- 
ceived at the close of his lecture. 

A mcetino; was called to meet at the Historical rooms 
on April 12th to listen to a paper from Mr. M. V. B. 
Perley on the Linebrook Parish. An important meeting at 
the Town Hall, on that evening, kept many away from the 
meeting and so few were in attendance that it was thought 
best to postpone its delivery until some future time. Mr. 
Perley is a native of that portion of our town, and is 
thoroughly acquainted with his subject. And it is earnestly 
hoped that we may be permitted to listen to the paper 
during the present winter. 

June 8th, we met at the Parish House to listen to an 
address from Mrs. Mary Newbery Adams of Michigan, (m 
"The place of Ipswich, in the development of our coun- 
try." Mrs. Adams is a descendant of one of our early 
settlers and is very much interested in our local history. 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 99 

The last, and one of the best lectures the Society has 
yet enjoyed, was given by Rev. Temple Cutler of Glou- 
cester, November 22d, on " Rufus Choate." Mr. Cuiler 
resided many years in Essex, which enabled him to gather 
from the lips of those well acquainted with Mr. Choate 
very many things which have never been given to the public 
concerning him, and which made the lecture intensely 
interesting to an Ipsw^ich audience. He spoke of his love 
of nature, his attachment to his native town, and especially 
to the lonely island where he was born. The lecture was 
both entertaining and instructive, and we only regret that 
it could not have been heard by many more of our people. 

REPORT OF THE TREASURER. 

Ipswich, Mass., Dec. 6, 1897. 
Joseph I. Horton in account with Ipswich Historical Society. 

DR. 

December 6, 1897. 

To balance from 1896 $ 4 87 

To amount received for membership dues, donations, etc., 152 20 



Total 157 07 

OR. 

December 6, 1896. 

By amount paid for rent §100 00 

By amount paid for printing 38 50 

By amount paid janitor 150 

By amount paid A. Tenney 100 

By amount paid J. W. Goodhue 100 

By amount paid F. H. Wade 7 00 

By amount paid for incidentals 7 20 

By balance in National Bank ------ 87 

Total $157 07 

EespectfuUy submitted, 

Joseph I. Horton, Treasurer. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE IPSWICH 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO NOVEMBER, 1897. 



Mrs. Jambs Alfrey, slippers of 
Lady Mumsey. 

Chas. Appleton, Hamilton, two 
broadsides. 

D. F. Appleion, ancient Peti- 
tion, 1658, books and manu- 
scripts, hour glass, sun dial, 
flax wheel, photograph, win- 
nowing fan. 

Frank R. Appleton, map of 
Ipswich, pictures of IpsAvich, 
England. 

W. SuMNEK Appleton, "Ancestry 
of Priscilla Baker." 

Willis L. Augur, Harrison 
badge, 1840. 

Ja>ie6 Averill, Salem, specta- 
cles, book, coin. 

John Baker, ancient spoon. 

Samuel N. Baker, arm rest and 
baluster rail from old meeting 
house of 1st Parish, shoe 
buckles, papers. 

Mrs. Calvin Bachelder, Major 
Woodbury's cobbling pincers. 

Mrs. Eliz. H. Baker, loan, round 
trunk, ancient plates. 

John E. Blakemore, business 
card of Paul Revere. 

James W. Bond, newspapers. 

Mks. J. W. Bond, military cap, 
worn by Abraham Lord. 

Warren Boynton, spinning 
wheel, reels, lamp, candle- 
sticks. 

(100) 



John A. Blake, Dr. Manning's 
tooth puller. 

Mr.s. K. K. Brown, chair, swift, 
broadside. 

Mks. Chas. W. Brown, piece of 
old elm. 

John B. Brown, loan, tea caddy, 
old account book. 

Allen W. Brown, flint lock 
musket; canteen. 

Frank Burn ham, loan, cup from 
Benedict .Arnold house. 

George Caldwell, panel pic- 
ture. Great Neck. 

Joanna Caldwkll, embroidered 
pocket, busk, knitting sheath, 
sickle, china, lamp, gridiron, 
Caldwell deeds. 

Mary T. Caldwell, Roslindale, 
flre bucket, S. E. Strong, No. 2. 

Sarah Caldwell, pew door, 
spectacles, book. 

Mary L. Chapman, Salem, ser- 
mons, book. 

Philip E. Clarke, almanacs, an- 
cient deeds, flax, linen thread. 

Thomas Condon, notices of 
memorial services, fractional 
currency. 

Edwaud Constant, Victoria ju- 
bilee medal. 

Caroline L. Conant, two plates. 

Shekman Cook, watcii chain. 

Fred G. Cross, family mortar and 
pestle. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSEUM. 



101 



Edwin H. Damon, lock from Har- 
ry Main bouse. 

Mks. Edwin H. Damon, embroi- 
dery. 

Lyman H. Daniels, picture of 
ship Boston. 

Frank R. Daniels, loan, Indian 

implements. 
Mks. Susan B.Dickinson, Indian 
implements, pewter platter, 
canister; loan, antique chair. 
Mrs. Eliza Dodge, hymn book, 
confederate money, candle 
sticks, old Italian paintings. 

Mrs. Harry K. Dodge, attach- 
ment, 1721. 

Arthur W. Dow, loan, file of 
Ipswich register and other pa- 
pers. 

Gko. F. Durgin, souvenir album, 
75th anniversary of Methodist 
Church. 

H. L. Ellsworth, loan, 60-cent 
fractional currency, copper 
cents. 

Hamden Faul, loan, MSS. ser- 
mons of Rev. Samuel Cobbett. 

Nath. R. Farley, spontoon, 
Denison Light Infantry. 

Ben.). Fkwkes, old papers, docu- 
ments. 

Angkline a. Foster, wooden 
plate, books. 

Al-mira p. Foster, cradle, flax- 
comb, tin baker, tin kitchen. 

A. S. Oakland, watchman's hook, 
powder horn, fractional cur- 
rency, newspaper. 

Mrs. Eliz. K. Gray, loan, diplo- 
ma Ipswich female seminary, 

Abby C. Giddings, colored map, 
comb. 

Mrs. John Gilbert, book. 



Saaiuel J. Goodhue, fowling 
piece, 1777, Ipswich Custom 
House seal, spoon, spectacles, 
documents. 

John J. Gould, loan, showshoes, 

Mrs. Geo. H. Green, fire irons, 
china, chest of drawers, sam- 
pler, chair, shovel, trunk. 

Mrs. S.vmukl Green, town and 
school reports. 

John S. Glovkr, piece of old 
spoon, brick for hearth. 

Joshua B. Grant, newspapers. 

James Griffing, continental 
money, 

F. S. Hammond, Oneida, N. Y., 
almanac, sermons, " Sentences 
of wise men for them that first 
enter to the Latin tongue." 

George Harris, chair, book, 
1637-88. 

Mrs. Fred Hart, plate, owned by 
Mrs. Eben Lord, 1783-1870, old 
deeds. 

Gkorge Haskell, Esq., two 
copies Autobiography. 

Geokgk Haskijll, jr., old bit and 
stock, pamphlets. 

Mrs. Susan Hobbes, coffee mill, 
skillet of last century. 

Sarah Holme.s, piece of an an- 
cient quilt; loan, epaulet and 
sash of Captain Holmes, can- 
dle-mould, brass candlesticks. 

Wm. a. Howe, loan, works of 
Wrn. Robertson, 8 vols., Lon- 
don, 1791. 

Chas. Jewett, chairs, cheese 
crumbier. 

Chas. S. Jewett, jug of old pat- 
tern. 

Clarence A. Jkwept, knife and 
fork ; hand made book, loan. 



102 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSEUM. 



M18SK8 Jewett, plate, Dr. Man- 
ning's pestle and mortar, wall 
paper, reports, etc. 
Aauon Kinsman, sabre and pistol, 
part of equipment worn by him 
as a member of the Ipswich 
troop in escorting Gen. Lafay- 
ette into Ipswich, 1824 ; porrin- 
ger. 
Bethiah Kinsman, loan, flax 
wheel, foot-stove, documents. 
GusTAVUs Kinsman, flint lock 
musket and bayonet, cartridge 
box, belts, cap and plume worn 
by Asa Kinsman as a member of 
Denison Light Infantry, pewter 
plate and mug, tinderbox, lamp, 
printed documents. 
William F. Kinsman, loan, 
"John Manning his book, 
1762." 
RoBT. S. Kimball, campaign 

medal. 
Susan Kimball, loan, lace pillow, 
sampler, diploma, piece of cur- 
tain from old South Church. 
Perley B. Lakeman, loan, pow- 
der horn, knapsack. 
Mrs. Perlky B. Lakeman, book 

of pressed flowers. 
George A. Lord, loan, ancient 

family bible. 
Frank H. Loud, loan, records of 
Denison Light Infantry, old 
documents. 
Lucy S. Lord, picture, Abraham 

Hammett. 
James F. Mann, two chairs, 

lampstand. 
Manning School, cannon ball, 
lock of Ipswich jail, Indian 
implements, etc. 



John W. Manseield, oil portrait 
of John Winthrop, jr., New 
Testament from Castle Thun- 
der, Richmond, Va. 

Joseph Marshall, flint lock gun 

and sword. 
Mrs. Jos. Marshall, loan, Brit- 
annia tea-pot. 
Jas. Api'leton Morgan, New 
York, autograph copy of "I 
love to think of old Ipswich 
town." 
Wm. J. Murray, Essex, book, 
"200th Anniversary of Essex 
Church." 
Methuen Hist. Soc, publica- 
tions. 
Benjamin Newman, Indian imple- 
ments. Continental money. 
Mrs. Harriet E. Noyks, lace 
made in Ipswich lace factory, 
baby-shirt of Jonathan Rich- 
ards 1799 ; loan, pitcher, minute- 
glass. 
Henry L. Ordway, shot mould. 
Mrs. Hannah Parsons, Revolu- 
tionary canteen. 
Mrs. Mary S. C. Peabody, pho- 
tograph. Rev. D. T. Kimball. 
I. E. B. Perkins, post-office 

boxes of Stephen Coburn. 
John Perkins, pewter plates and 
platters, fire bucket, continen- 
tal money, Indian implements, 
list Capt. Dodge's company. 

M. V. B. Perley, almanacs and di- 
rectories. 

Augustine H. Plouff, warming 
pan. 

Mrs. Edward Plouff, picture, 
Geo. Whitefleld, drinking jug. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO JIUSEUM. 



103 



Fred. H. Plouff, lamp, with 
bull's eye, tavern sign of Cor- 
poral Foster I8OI1. 

Chas. B. Rice, D. D., autograph 
of Whittier. 

Jas. E. Richardson, loan, Indian 
implements, price-list, 1777, 
fractional currency, picture. 
Rowley Common 1839. 

John Roberts, blue glasses. 

Thos. Edward Roberts, writing 
desk used by Daniel "Webster, 
and engraving of Webster from 
his library. 

Timothy Ross, copies of Ipswich 
Clarion. 

Jacob C. Safford, Indian imple- 
ments. 

Mrs. HENRy Saltoxstall, Bos- 
ton, water color, old Whipple 
house, often called the Salton- 
stall house. 

Rich. M. Saltonstall. Boston, 
" Sir Richard Saltonstall of 
New England, Ancestry and De- 
scendants." 

Angus L. Savory, jar, ploughed 
up In N. R. Underhiil's land, 
wood from Avitch-house, so 
called. In Salem. 

Charles A. Sayward, Esq., 
pistol holster used in Ipswich 
Troop, lock of old post-offlce. 

George A. Schofield, newspa- 
pers, pamphlets. 

John T. Sherburn, old family 
chest, state bank biU. 

CoL. Nath. Shatswell, his com- 
mission as colonel in Civil War, 
old documents, ancient spit. 

Edward A. Smith, Salem, fac- 
simile Trumbull's Battle of 
Bunker Hill, 



Eunice K. Smith, hand screen, 
cheese tongs. Dr. Dana's china 
and certificate of membership in 
Bunker Hill Mon. Assoc, 
mourning badge, pamphlet. 

Miss Lucy Smith, confederate 
bill. 

John G. Sperling, picture, Rus- 
sian scene. 

Robert Stone, loan, Shatswell 

andirons, date „ g, spinning 

wheel, 1751, box iron. 

Edward Sullivan, button. 

John E. Tknney, loan, Spring- 
field rifle, and canteen carried 
by him in the Civil War, brush 
and primer. 

Mrs. John E. Tennky, loan, 
towel, spun and woven by the 
mother of Daniel Webster. 

Mrs. Susan L. Thomas, piece of 
ancient embroidery. 

Hon. Robt. B. Tewksbury, 
Methnen, pamphlet " The Mer- 
rimack Valley. 

Fr^vncis H. Wade, wool-cards, 
Col. Nath. Wade's Revolution- 
ary orderly books. Col. Wade's 
fire bucket, ancient pocket- 
books. 

Misses Wait, flag of Denisoa 
Light Infantry. 

Mrs. Caruie L. Warner, loan, 
proclamation 1779, Commercial 
Advertiser. 

T. Frank Waters, loan, Wash- 
ington pitcher, exhibit from 
shell-heap in Treadwell's Island, 
roofing tile, glass from old 
Burnham house. 

Chas. H. Wells, school readers. 

Mrs. Chas. H. Wells, Indian 
relics. 



104 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSEUM. 



Mrs. Lucrktia "Whipple, loan, 
glass-mug of Dr. Manning. 

Harry H. Wildes, loan, Ham- 
mett trunk. 

Fred. A. Willcomb, canteen, 
Denison Light Infantry, stand- 
ing stool, owned bj"^ Wm. Oakes, 
calendars, autographs of Jas. 
G. Blaine and Senator Foraker. 

Mrs. W. p. Willett, Orange, N. 
J., plate owned by Mrs. Julia 
P. Willett, Memoir of Mrs. 
Abigail Waters, picture, fres- 
coes in Sistine Chapel. 



Joseph R. Wilson, cheese press 
chair, Dutch oven. 

Robert C.Winthrop Jr., Boston, 
autograph letter, John Win- 
throp Jr., July 20, 1634, in- 
ventory of Winthrop's house- 
hold goods, "Evidences of Win- 
throp of Groton," "Life and 
letters of John Winthrop,'' 
" Speeches and Addresses, R. C. 
Winthrop," "Memoir of R. C. 
Winthrop," "Washington, Bow- 
doin and Franklin." 



BY-LAWS. 



This Society shall be called the Ipswich Historical 
Society. 

II. 

The objects of the Society are to investigate, record and 
perpetuate the history of the town of Ipswich, and to col- 
lect, hold and preserve documents, books, relics and all 
other matter illustrating its history, or that of individuals 
or families identified with it. 

III. 

The Society shall be composed of resident, honorary 
and life members ; and all the members shall have the 
right to attend all meetings, and to enjoy full use of the 
historical collections of the Society, subject to the ordinary 
regulations, but the management and disposal of the So- 
ciety's affairs and property, and the right to vote shall 
belong only to resident and life members. 

IV. 

All members shall be nominated by the Directors and 
shall be elected by ballot at any regular meeting by a 
majority of the votes cast. 

V. 

Any member of kindred societies, and any person, who 
has especial interest in the objects of the Society, or who 
has rendered it valuable service, is eligible for honorary 
membership. 

Every person elected an honorary member shall become 
such by signifying acceptance to the Recording Secretary, 
in writing. 

VI. 

Any donor to the funds of the Society to the amount 
of twenty-five dollars may be elected a life member, and 
shall be exempt from the payment of the annual fee. 

(105) 



106 BY-LAWS. 

VII. 

Every resident member shall pay an annual fee of two 
dollars, which shall be due on the iirst of December, and 
faihire to pay this fee for two years shall forfeit member- 
ship unless the Directors shall direct otherwise. 

VIII. 

An annual meeting for the election of officers shall be 
held on the first Monday of December and regular meet- 
ing on the first Monday of February, May and October. 
Special meetings may be held on the call of the Directors. 
Due notice of all meetings shall be given by the Record- 
ing Secretary. 

IX. 

The officers of the Society shall be a President, two 
Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, a 
corresponding Secretary iuid a Librarian, and they shall 
form collectively a Board of Directors. These officers 
shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting, and their 
term of office shall be for one year from the date of that 
meeting, and until their successors are elected.^ Vacan- 
cies in the Board of Directors shall be filled for the re- 
mainder of the year by the remaining Directors. 

The duties of all these officers sbill be those usually 
belonging to offices they hold. 



The Directors shall determine the use to be made of 
the income and funds of the Society, shall endeavor to 
promote the especial objects of the Society in such ways 
as may seem most appropriate, shall appoint such com- 
mittees as may seem expedient, and shall have the charge 
and custody of all the property and collections of the 
Society. 

XI. 

These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting 
or the annual meeting, on recommendation of the Direc- 
tors, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, 
provided that due notice has been given of the proposed 
change at a previous meeting. 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE IPSWICH 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

VI. 



ORDER OF EXERCISES 



Dedication of the Ancient House 



NOW occur :ed by the society 



Proceedings at the Annual Meeting, Dec, 5, 1898 



INCLUDING 



A HISTORY OF THE HOUSE 

BY THE PRESIDENT. 



■ffpswicb : 

The Independent Press. 
1899. 




Home of the Ipswich Historical Society. 




Ancient Kitchen, Historical House. 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE IPSWICH 
HIS TOPIC A L S O CIE T Y, 
VI. 



ORDER OF EXERCISES 



Dedication of the Ancient House 



NOW OCCUPIED BY THB SOCIETY 



Proceedings at the Annual Meeting, Dec, 5, 1898 



INCLUDING 



A HISTORY OF THE HOUSE 



BY THE PRESIDENT. 



Ilpswicb : 

The Independent Press. 



Fit 



GiJt 



Tlie 



:c'08 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



At the annual meeting of the Ipswich Historical Society on December 6th, 
1897, the President's Report called the attention of the Society to the ancient 
house near the depot, commonly known as the Saltonstall house, as an interesting 
local relict of the remote past, an admirable type of an early style of architecture, 
too valuable to be allowed to fall into utter ruin, and an ideal home for the Society^ 
A committee of inspection was appointed, and a thorough examination of the house 
was made. It was found that notwithstanding the decayed condition of the ex- 
terior, the interior was well preserved, and of such phenomenal attractiveness that 
the work of repair and restoration, while extensive and costly, was well worth 
undertaking. The owner, Mr, James W. Bond, was willing to sell, and the com- 
mittee reported favorably to the project. 

In May, 1898, after some preliminary canvas for funds had been made, the 
Society voted to purchase the property, and a committee of five was appointed to repair 
and restore the house, as it seemed best to them. The work was begun as soon as 
the transfer of the title to the designated trustees was accomplished, and was pushed 
as rapidly as possible through the summer. 

Before it was completed, it seemed best to secure the incorporation of the 
Historical Society. The Charter, and By-Laws of the corporation, a list of mem- 
bers, the proceedings at the dedication, and at the annual meeting, the President's 
report, which discussed at length the history of the old mansion, and the other 
reports then presented are published in full in the following pages. 



THE CHARTER OF THE SOCIETY. 



Gommonwcaltb of flDaesacbuectts. 



Bs it kooWn, That whereas T. Frank Waters, Joseph I. Horton, Charles 
A. Sayward, Everard H. Martin, John H. Cogswell, John W. Goodhue, 
Charles W. Kelley, Theodore F. Cogswell, William S. Russell, John 
Heard and John J. Sullivan 

have associated themselves with the intention of forming a corporation under the 
name of Tl^e IpsWich h|iStorical Society, for the purpose of gathering and 
recording of knowledge of the history of Ipswich, and of individuals and families 
connected with Ipswich, collecting and preserving printed and written manuscripts, 
pamphlets and other matters of historic interest, and collecting articles of historical 
and antiquarian interest, and preserving and furnishing in colonial style, one of the 
ancient dwelling-houses ot said Ipswich, and have complied with the provisions of 
the statutes of the Commonwealth in such case made and provided, as appears 
from the certificate of the President, Treasurer and Directors of said corporation, 
duly approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and recorded in this office. 

Now, th)erefore, Ij William M. Olin, Secretary of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that said T. Frank Waters, Joseph 
I. Horton, Charles A. Sayward, Everard H. Martin, John H. Cogswell, John W. 
Goodhue, Charles M. Kelley, Theodore F. Cogswell, William S. Russell, John 
Heard and John J. Sullivan, their associates and successors, are legally organized 
and established as and are hereby made an existing corporation under the name of 
The Ipswich liiStorical Society, with powers, rights and privileges, and 
subject to the limitations, duties and restrictions which by law appertain thereto. 

^fgr§:-gr§^§^ ^j^j^ggg j^y official signature hereunto subscribed, and the seal of 
if^ SEAL ^ the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereunto affixed this 

^^•^':§:-§i§;-§:^ twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one 

thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. 

WM. M. OLIN, 
Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



BY-LAWS. 



I. 

The objects of the Society are the gathering and recording of knowledge of 
the history of Ipswich and of individuals and families connected with said Ipswich; 
the collection and preservation of printed and written manuscripts, pamphlets, and 
other matters of historic interest, and the collection of articles of historical and 
antiquarian interest, and the preservation of and flirnishing in colonial stvle of one 
of the ancient dwelling houses of said Ipswich. 

11. 

The annual meeting for the election of officers shall be held on the first Mon- 
day in December of each year, and meetings for literary and social purposes shall be 
held on the first Monday of February, May and October. All meetings shall be 
called by the directors by a warrant under their hands, addressed to the clerk of 
the corporation, directing him to give notice of such meeting by sending a notice 
to each member of the corporation bv mail four days at least before the time of 
holding such meeting ; which notice shall contain the substance of the matter 
named in said warrant to be acted upon at such meeting. Said warrant shall state 
all the business to be acted upon at such meeting, and no other business shall be 
transacted at such meeting. Special meetings mav be called bv the directors in the 
same manner as other meetings. 

III. 

Any member of the corporation may present the name of anv person jfor 
membership to the clerk, who shall announce at the next meeting of the corpora- 
tion thereafter the name of said person so proposed for membership ; and said cor- 
poration may vote to admit said person to membership of the corporation at the 



next meeting of said corporation held after the clerk has announced the name for 
membership. 

IV. 

Every member shall pay an annual fee of two dollars which shall be due on 
the first day of December, and failure to pay this fee for two years shall forfeit 
membership unless said corporation otherwise direct. 

V. 

The officers of the corporation shall be a president, two vice presidents, treas- 
urer, clerk, corresponding secretary, librarian and three directors. 

These officers shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting and their term 
of office shall be for one year from the date of that meeting and until their suc- 
cessors are chosen. Vacancies in any of these offices shall be filled by the direc- 
tors for the unexpired term. 

VI. 

The directors shall determine the use to be made of the income and funds ot 
the Society ; shall endeavor to promote the special objects of the Society in such 
ways as may seem most appropriate, shall appoint such committees as may seem 
expedient and shall have charge and custody of all property and collections of the 
Society. 

VII. 

These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting or the annual meeting 
on recommendation of the directors by vote of two-thirds of the members present 
provided that due notice has been given of the proposed change at a previous 
meeting. 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES. 



On Wednesday, October 19th, the work of repair and restoration being well 
completed, the Ipswich Historical Society dedicated its new home. The old land- 
mark, known to many as the Saltonstall house, had undergone a wonderflil 
transformation without and within. Fresh clapboards and shingles, new wood dex- 
terously inserted in the decayed spots of the ancient beams, diamond paned win- 
dows of the original low and broad shape, and a final coat of dark stain had made 
a very attractive exterior and brought into bold relief the quaint and striking archi- 
tecture. 

Within, the partitions that divided the great rooms into two and even three 
apartments had been removed ; the great fire-places had been restored ; the modern 
ceilings had been torn away disclosing the original oak floor joists, and the original 
plastering ; the great beams had been scraped and oiled, and the stately rooms had 
been brought back, so far as possible, to their original dignity. 

In the west room on the lower floor the library of the Society and its cabinet 
of china and heirlooms have been permanently established. A fine oak chest loaned 
by Mr. D. F. Appleton, an ancient piano loaned by Mrs. Charles S. Tuckerman, 
andque chairs, pictures, and two great bronze candelabra contributed to make a 
very pleasing appearance. 

The east room has been furnished as a kitchen. Its capacious fire-place was 
equipped with ancient cooking utensils and made bright and cheery with a roaring 
fire. Pewter platters and ancient fire-arms adorned the walls. The spinning 
wheels and cheese press and churn were in place, and the fine old hundred -legged 
table occupied the center. 

The west chamber was becomingly arranged as a bed room, with a canopy 
bed made up with ancient bed furnishings, old family chests, cradle and lightstand. 
A collection of water color pictures of the old houses of the town loaned by the 
artist, Mr. Walter Paris, of Washington, attracted much attention here. 

The great east chamber was reserved for the dedicatory exercises, and despite 
the pouring rain, a notable gathering assembled there. The Essex Institute, of 
Salem, sent a goodly delegation including the President, Hon. R. S. Rantoul, the 



b DEDICATION EXERCISES. 

Secretary and Prof. E. S. Morse. The Danvers, Beverly, Methuen, Essex 
and Gloucester Historical Societies were represented. Conspicuous among the 
townsfolk were Mrs. Elizabeth K. Grav, who wore her grandmother's wedding 
dress in honor of the occasion, and Mr. Aaron Kinsman, hale and hearty and 
ninety-four, who trained in the Ipswich troop when it escorted La Fayette to Ips- 
wich August 31, 1824. 

The President called to order and spoke as follows : 

Members of the Ipswich Historical Society, representatives of other Historical 
Societies: 

Ladies and Gentlemen: We are met here today to dedicate to the use of our 
Historical Society this ancient house. As President Lincoln said at Gettysburg, we 
may well feel that we can bring no honor to it by anything that we can say or do 
here. The old home that has sheltered seven generations of men has won for itself 
peculiar sanctity. Within these walls the great evxnts in the drama of life have 
been enacted. There have been births and deaths, weddings and funerals, the 
sorrows of parting, the joys of home coming, the ;nanifold toil of multitudes. The 
hopes and fears and disappointments of the dwxllers within these rooms have filled 
them with tender memories. The whirr ot Polly Crafts' loom seems to sound 
again in this very room, where she gained a slender livelihood by weaving towels 
and coarse fabrics, symbolic ot the wearing and patient industry which was the most 
conspicuous feature of the home life of the past. 

It is a link that binds us to the remote Past and to a solemn and earnest man- 
ner of living, quite in contrast with much in our modern life. How long it is since 
those who planned to build this mansion went up and down the forests to select the 
grand old oaks and stately pines which should be felled to make these beams! How 
much of loving toil was spent before they were shaped and carved and fitted! How 
long the smith forged at his anvil before the nails and hinges were finished! The 
open panel yonder shows how thoroughly they built, filling every space between 
the studs with bricks and clay. Whether it was because they feared Indian assault, 
— for fear of Indian assault was never wholly absent for many years after these 
stout walls were reared, — and built thus securely, or because they sought to keep 
out the biting cold of winter, I cannot affirm, but we must admire the solidity of 
their work. 

I am often asked how old the house is. I cannot reply definitely. We are 
sure John Whipple was living on this spot in 1642 and probably in 1638, but 
whether any portion of this building could have been erected within nine years 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES, 



from the wilderness period is open to serious doubt. It seems probalile that the 
oldest portion was built not far from the middle of the seventeenth centurv. 

How many men of fine quality have come here! John Norton, the great 
light of the Ipswich church who went from here in 16^5, to become the famous 
pastor ot the Old South church in Boston, may have come often. We may feel 
almost sure that William Hubbard, Pastor, and Historian of the Indian wars, Thos. 
Cobbett, and the famous Rogerses, and every other of the old time ministers found 
pleasant greeting, for the Whipples and Crockers were a godly race, and remem- 
brance still survives of prayer meetings in good Deacon Crocker's time. 

Gen. Denison in his young manhood dwelt on the adjoining lot; and in his 
maturer years no doubt came to see the old neighbors and friends; and Major Sam- 
uel Appleton, the hero of King Philip's War played here in his bovhood, for his 
father's lands touched these on the west. Symonds and Saltonstall, John Apple- 
ton and his famous co-patriots of 1687, and many another warmed themselves before 
the great fires, and made themselves comfortable. In later davs the revolutionarv 
soldier Col. Hodgkins lived here and died in the parlor below, in a press bed, as 
his granddaughter remembers. 

We have done our best to restore the house to its ancient stvle. We have 
adhered slavishly to the original. These doors and hinges and wooden latches, 
these great fire-places are all of the olden kind. Later hands had rebuilt the fire- 
places, and constructed ovens, within their original bounds; but because they were 
built subsequently, we have removed them and gone back to the primitive shape. 
These new windows we are sure are of the same size and in the very place occupied 
by the original ; and two old people, who came often to the house in their childhood, 
remember windows, which had the diamond panes. 

Of relicts we have as you see, not a few. Chief among them we reckon, on 
this 19th day of October, the anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis at York- 
town, which is being observed as La Fayette Day up and down our land, the horse- 
pistol and sabre worn by a member of the Ipswich troop in escorting La Fayette to 
town on the 31st of August, 1824, and the tumbler from which the Marquis drank 
at the banquet ; and better than that, we have with us in good health and strength, 
the old soldier himself, who wore these accoutrements on that day, now in his 
ninety-fourth year, Mr. Aaron Kinsman. I want to ask Mr. Kinsman to rise 
that all may see him, and will all arise to receive him with due honor. 

I will not weary you, however, for I wish to call upon the Pastor of the Old 
First Church, the successor of Norton and Hubbard and all the rest. Rev. Mr. 
Constant, to offer prayer, in this room where prayer has been wont to be made su 
many times in the past. 



(O DEDICATORY E.YERCTsrS. 

Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr. Constant. 

The following lines bv Mr. Samuel R. Bond of Washington, who lived in 
the old house in his boyhood, were read bv Mr. John H. Cogswell: 

"This ancient house to dedicate we meet. 

As our new home, in this unique retreat; 
Firm has it stood, two hundred years and more, 

So staunchly built those ancestors of yore. 
What visions rise, what thouglits our minds invade, 

Of stalwart men, who its foundations laid! 
Laid the foundations of our nation, too, — 

Brave men, who "builded better than they knew." 

Our purpose is in keeping with this thought; 

To learn, preserve and treasure what they wrought. 
To keep alive the spirit of their deeds, 

And hold in lasting memory their meeds. 
If built by Whipple or by Saltonstall, 

Can make but little difference after all: 
The type for which it stands is still the same. 

And character survives without a name. 

The dedicatory address was then delivered bv Rev. John C. Kimball, of 
Hartford, Conn., who was introduced as "another boy of the neighborhood." He 
spoke as follows: — 

What constitutes the value of an old house like this that we have met here to- 
day to dedicate to a continued existence, and why should the people ot Ipswich and 
elsewhere be asked to contribute their money and their sympathy to its restoration 
and preservation? Why not let it go on to completed ruin, and use our money to 
put up a new, modern, stylish building which would be architecturally an orna- 
ment to the town and have spacious and convenient rooms for the uses of our His- 
torical Society? Is not a return of dust to dust the law of nature with regard to all 
old things, — old plants, old animals, old men, old institutions, and even old relig- 
ions? And is not what we are doing to this old building something which is 
counter alike to nature and to plain business common sense? In one of Scott's 
novels is an antiquarian, a clergyman, if I remember correctly, who spends a good 
deal of time and research in the recovery ot an old drinking song not over moral in 
its tone, which belonged to a past age, and is greatly delighted with his success. 
Whereupon a friend of his in the plainer walks of life, seeing his delight in such 
things, offers to procure for him at a very slight cost half a dozen fresh drinking 
songs that rollicking young blades of his own time were then singing at the village 
ale-house, and is greatly surprised at his apparent inconsistency when with a good 
deal of disgust and horror he declines the offer. So if the parishioners and friends 
of our brother Waters or of any one else among us, should offer to build here a 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES. I 1 

brand new house to live in of exactly the same pattern as this old one, low studded, 
big beamed, narrow stairwayed, open fire-placed, huge chimneyed, lacking in up- 
rightness of walls, and, judged by the modern standard, in various ways architec- 
turallv immoral, I doubt not he would shrink from the offer with equal dismav. 
And such being the case, where is the consistenc}- of our delight with this one that 
is not new? What the merit of oldness in a building, when what we want in our- 
selves and in so many other things is \outh, — young ministers, young chickens, 
young wives and the like? These are questions, as I understand the matter, that 
the people of Ipswich wish answered as the condition of their giving their sympa- 
thy and support to the work in which our Historical Society has here been en- 
gaged. What is the answer? 

The answer is first of all that such old things help to that which is the great end 
of all buildings, all food, all clothing, all toil, all monev-spending, — help us the 
more largely to live. To live at all, at least in this world, we have got to live in 
time, and to live largely have got to have something more to live on that what we 
eat and drink. Time, however, is threefold, not the present alone, but the future 
and the past, and needs for living in all of it three different sets of faculties and 
kinds of nutriment. We live in the present with our senses and our immediate per- 
ceptions and affections; and the whole existing world as it is around us today sup- 
plies its objects. We live in the future with our hopes, aspirations, plans; and 
that promising of something better than that which we have now, which all nature 
is full of, yea, is in the very meaning of the word nature, our own imaginations 
"bodying forth the form of things unknown," and beyond all these, our religion 
reaching out into the vast eternal years, they afford its food. 

But even these are not all of life. To have its utmost fulness we must like- 
wise live in the past. And to live this part of life we have memory, the memory 
of ourselves and the memory of our race. In some respects it is one of the most 
important faculties of the human soul, the one on which psychologically a whole 
group of other faculties depend, the one without which it is doubtful whether we 
could be rational, moral, self-conscious human beings. But even apart from the 
deeper mental uses of memory, how much it adds to the richness and amount of 
our actual living. It reaches back into our youth, and in spite of wrinkles and 
years keeps a part of us forever young. It reaches back among our friends, and in 
spite of death and the grave keeps something about them forever alive. It reaches 
back with our race through the ages, and in spite of distance and decay gives us 
the fellowship of its heroes and saints and sages and the accumulating treasures of 
its wisdom and knowledge. Campbell has sung for us, "The Pleasures of Hope;" 
Rogers with equal grace "The Pleasures ot Memory." The pleasures of memory 



I 2 DEDICATORV EXERCISES. 

are not so brilliant and free from pain as those of hope. But they have this ad- 
vantage, they are more solid and real, and are of a kind in which their inner mental 
source can be assisted and strengthened bv actual outward things, bv books, pic- 
tures, monuments and relics ot the past. 

It is this fact that suggests the value of this old house and of all that our His- 
torical Society is doing. It vivifies and strengthens memory, enables us to live 
more richly in past time, stretches our existence from seventy and eighty to over 
two hundred years, brings us into touch again with our ancestors and the fathers 
of the town, and without asking us to desert with our bodilv senses our nice mod- 
ern dwellings, opens to us a door through which to live with our minds among 
the furniture, within the walls and under the customs ot our country's far off youth. 

My sister, whose dwelling is the next house East of this, tells me that a ser- 
vant of hers, a queer old lady endowed apparently with the faculty of seeing per- 
sons and things invisible to common eyes, though uneducated and entirely ignorant 
of the controversy about the building's original ownership, would say sometimes as 
she looked over here, that she saw sitting at the window a stately dame "very dif- 
ferent in quality from common folks," arrayed in a cap and style of dress, which, 
as she described them, correspond very nearly with those of our Puritan age. If 
her second-sight can be relied upon, it is not without its bearing on the Saltonstall 
ownership, and it may be well for those who have taken that side and want an 
evidence which will offset wills and deeds to interview the old lady. 

But whether her vision was real or not, our historic memory looking in 
through the windows of the place with eyes equally wonderful and helped by its 
actual walls, can see it filled with the stately men and women of other days, can 
ive with them their lives, think with them their thoughts, feel with them their as- 
pirations. And there is nothing in such visions to make our hair rise and our flesh 
creep, nothing which is not as sweet and pleasant as it is to meet the good elderly 
people yet in their flesh who are here today. 

Oh marvellous power ot association! Oh strange gift of material things, dead, 
speechless, mindless themselves, to call out of its grave the Lazarus of the past, to 
unbar the gates of the years and the ages for us to walk again their re-illuminated 
aisles, to press afresh to our inner lips the wine of joys that time has dried up, and 
out ot spirit worlds to bring for communion with us once more our loved and lost, 
their touch, their words, their looks, their love. Do not accuse me of indulging in 
mere fancy to give this house an unreal value or such as only sentimentalists can 
teel. There is not one of you here, not the most prosaic fact worshipper, who does 
not have some relic of the past which unlocks for him treasures that banks cannot 
hold or figures express; not a childless mother who has not a ribbon or trinket or 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES 



'3 



little shoe, which a form seen of no outward eye comes back again and again to 
wear; not a widowed lover who has not a ring or coin or lock of hair, which, Sun- 
day eves or week-day holy hours, does not rekindle all the old affection; not a 
scholar in whose library there are not books on whose pages are pictures no pencil 
ever drew, and between whose lines records no type ever made. What would 
Rome be without its ruins? What Greece, without its tombs? What Palestine, 
without its Nazareth? What America, without its Bunker Hill and Gettysburg? 
Who shall say it is mere fancy which gives them their value? It is their power o 
making for us the past alive and making us live in the past. In every soul is a 
Witch of Endor; in every land places from which its Samuels obey her summons. 
And it is out of what is so precious in our individual experience, and out of what 
everywhere gives the world so large a part of its wealth, that comes to Ipswich the 
value of this ancient house. 

As regards the objection against its preservation that it is the law of nature 
that all things shall decay and that to keep it from doing so is going counter there- 
to, it is to be answered that such is only a part of nature's law. Even outward 
nature with all its destructiveness is likewise very largelv a preserver. What is 
our whole earth beneath its surface but a grand old house? What are its coal mines, 
its minerals, its rocks, its fossil animals and plants but the relics stored in it by a 
historical society ages older than any human one? And without such stores what 
would our manufactures, our agriculture, our travel, our science be? 

More wonderful still, our own living bodies and souls, those not only of de- 
crepit men, but of every new-born babe, are now known under the revelations of 
heredity to be old houses filled with relics of the immeasurable past — physical or- 
gans and traits of mind and soul which have come down from ages older than his- 
tory, and, according to Darwin, from ages older than man. As Holmes has ex- 
pressed it, "Live folks are only dead folks warmed over" — only ancestral homes 
with the ancient mould and plaster scraped off, and the original oak beams re- 
touched with today's fresh varnish. So that after all in preserving this old build- 
ing we are only following Nature's own example — that Nature which through 
Emerson has sung, — 

"■No ray is dimmed, no atom worn, 

My oldest force is good as new. 
And the fresh rose on yonder thorn 



Gives back the bended heavens in dew. 



Ipswich is fortunate in having so many relics of the past, especially so many 
old houses. Rightly viewed they are the most precious of all its outward posses- 
sions. Any town which has monev can build new houses, in new styles, and 
with all the modern conveniences. The country is full of them. But no money 



I 4 DEDICATORY EXERCISES. 

no skill, no enthusiasm can build antiquity, — put up new edifices that are two hun- 
dred years old. They are the dowry to us of time. And as such what worse 
than spendthrifts should we be to hand them over to decav — worse than the old 
medieval monks who erased the precious poetry of classic Greece and Rome to 
write on parchments beneath it their own trivial subtleties? 

There is no inconsistency between regard for ancient things, and prosperity in 
the treasures of our modern life. Rather, the two things naturally go together. 
Savages have no interest in the past. It is only civilized human beings who write 
history and preserve ancient memorials. Society is like a tree. It cannot flourish 
with its trunk resting only on the present's surface. It must, to bear fruic, have 
roots which go down into the soil of the past, and limbs which lift themselves into 
the airs ot the far off future. Out in Oregon I knew of a man who tried to clear 
up his farm by burning up all its dead trees and accumulated mould. When he 
had done so, he found he had only a gravel bed left. I knew of another man 
there who in clearing up his farm preserved its mould and decayed trees; and of 
new products he had not only thirty and sixty, but a hundred and two hundred 
fold. Which farmer, even in the pursuit of material prosperity, had Ipswich bet- 
ter follow? 

Along with its old buildings there is one other thing in which our town is es- 
pecially fortunate, and that is in having among its citizens a man endowed, as Mr. 
Waters is, with the knowledge, the enthusiasm, the good taste and the immeasura- 
ble patience which qualify him to be a leader in their preservation, a man who is 
not a mere Dr. Dryasdust picking up alike pebbles and pearls that are old, but one 
with the insight which has been quick to discern the original values to which the 
years have added their interest. 

I know a little in my own experience how difficult it is to enlist the sympa- 
thy even of one's friends in such an enterprise as the restoration of this building has 
been. I have an oldish ancestral house of my own in town that I have a tender- 
ness for and which I like to keep clothed in such a garb as is needed to give age 
respectability. But there is a most excellent lady in my family who finds it hard 
to share in such a tenderness. She thinks it is my most expensive vice, says 
laughingly that so far as ribbons and new bonnets are concerned she would be bet- 
ter off with a husband who had half a dozen ordinary marital iniquities such as ci- 
gar smoking in her room, muddy boots on the parlor floor, praising his mother's 
bread above hers, admiring other women and even staying out late at night, than 
one whose sinfulness takes the form of a wayward passion for old houses. 

I do not know whether the better half of Brother Waters has the same opinion 
of her husband's antiquity morals, or the same suffering as its result in the line of 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES. 



15 



ribbons and bonnets. But I do know there are some excellent members of our 
town's municipal family who, seeing what he has been engaged in, have had their 
doubts raised about his intellectual uprightness, and who would hardly be more 
perplexed and more parsimonious in their contributions to it of money, had he 
been engaged in building a nice dancing hall, or a spacious race course, or even an 
elegant drinking saloon. 

Nevertheless in the face of all this indifference and coldness he has gone 
straight ahead putting into it his time, his money, his faculty, his good nature, his 
unrivalled taste, and his own personal hand-work. I do not forget the aid he has 
received from his genial fellow members of the Historical Societv and from a few 
large minded friends at home and abroad. But all will testify that without his 
leadership the work would never have been done or even started. The tribute of 
the lady, a stranger, visiting the place awhile ago, and finding him hard at work, 
yet ready politely to answer all her questions, "I met there a very intelligent paint- 
er," was how well deserved. And whatever other names the place may bear as to 
its original builders and occupants, we are glad to think that it will stand, if not at 
once, yet in the long coming years, as the memorial also of the man who has so 
self-sacrificingly and so modestly given himself to its preservation. 

Recognizing thus the value of this old house and of the work which has been 
put into it, we dedicate it to the memories of the past, to the uses of our Histori- 
cal Society and to such mementoes of ancient Ipswich life as shall from time to 
time be gathered within its rooms. In doing so, we feel that we place it along- 
side ot the town's venerable hills and river and ocean shore as one of its ornaments; 
alongside its schools and its public library as one of its educational institutions: 
alongside its markets and workshops and factories as adding to it a wealth finer than 
gold; and alongside its churches and homes as co-operating fitly with him who 
compared the kingdom of Heaven to a man who out of his treasury brought forth 
new and old and who himself came to mankind that they might have life and have 
it more abundantly. May the interest and support of the town's citizens be gath- 
ered into it more and more; and as they, too, shall grow old, may it be to them 
an emblem ot the beauty, the dignity and of the treasures out of the past that our 
human old age may have, and a reminder of that other house, older than all time, 
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, within which we all at last hope to 
be gathered. 

Hon. Robert S. Rantoul of Salem, President of the Essex Institute, made a 
few congratulatory remarks, and was followed by Prof. Edward S. Morse, with a 
bright address, full of wit and wisdom. Mr. James Appleton Morgan of West- 
field, N. J., author of the well-known poem, "I love to think of old Ipswich town" 



i6 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES. 



spoke with much feeling of" his Appleton ancestry, and predicted wide-spreading and 
enduring fame for the ancient house in its new role as the home of the Historical 
Society. The company then adjourned to the great kitchen, where tea was served 
by the ladies and great good cheer prevailed. 

Beside the liberal delegation from the Essex Institute which had arranged a 
field meeting in town for the earlier portion of the day. Col. David Low, presi- 
dent of the Gloucester Historical Society, Chas. Woodberry, vice-president of the 
Beverly Historical Society, John Prince, president of the Essex Historical Society, 
and Mr. Rufus Choate of the same Society, Andrew Nichols of the Danvers 
Historical Society and representative of the Methuen Historical Society were 
also present. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The first annual meeting of the corporation was held at the house on Winter 
street on December first, 1898 at 8 p. m. 

The following officers were elected by ballot: President, T. Frank Watersj 
vice presidents, John Heard, Frederic Willcomb; clerk, John W. Goodhue; treas- 
urer, Joseph I. Horton; directors, Charles A. Say ward, Everard H, Martin, John 
H. Cogswell; corresponding secretary, John H. Cogswell; librarian, John J. Sulli- 
van. 

The following amendment to the Constitution was adopted: 

"Any person not a resident of Ipswich, who has contributed or mav contri- 
bute five dollars to the Society may be elected an honorary member of the cor- 
poration, and shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Society except that of 
voting at its meetings." The report of the president was read and accepted. 

The report of the treasurer was read and accepted. 

\ 

PRESIDENT'S REPORT. 
At the last annual meeting of the Ipswich Historical Society, the project of 
purchasing the ancient Whipple House and fitting it for the use of the Society, was 
considered, and a committee was chosen "to inquire into the feasibility of the plan." 
No words of mine are needed to tell in detail the result of their deliberations. To- 
night we meet under its ancient roof The title deeds are held by our Society as a 
corporate body. The work of repair and restoration is complete. Our collec- 
tions are arranged in these great rooms. With becoming enthusiasm our mansion 
has been formally dedicated to its new and honorable use as an historic landmark, 
and the home of the Society. Already the fame of this ancient building has gone 
abroad. Many strangers have come to see it and the unanimous verdict is, that the 
house is of extraordinary intrinsic value, and that our Society is most fortunate in 
securing possession. 




COL. JOSEPH HODGKINS. 



The house now occupied by the 

(pswich Historical Society was once 

the home of Col. Hodgkins. 



(18) 



ANNUAL MEETIXC PRESIDENT S REPORT. lU 

As a specimen of seventeenth century architecture, this house is an obiect of 
just pride. The size and quality of these superb oak beams, their finely finished 
moulded edges, the substantial oak floor joists, the great posts with their escutcheons 
so laboriously wrought, the noble size of these four great rooms, proclaim that this 
was a home of wealth and refinement, and make it easv- for us to believe that it was 
the finest mansion of the town. Many ancient houses have disappeared, but the 
most tenacious memory of the oldest inhabitant cannot recall such strength and elab- 
orate finish as we find here. So far as I am familiar with the oldest houses now 
remaining, none can compare with this for a moment. 

The question of its age is constantly raised, by town-folk and stranger alike. 
The other question of its ownership is still vigorouslv argued. I think I can do no 
better service at this time than tell the story as I have been able to discover it, by- 
long and careful and repeated research. 

Many remember Mr. Abraham Bond, the father of Mr. Jas. W. Bond, from 
whom our Society purchased the property. He bought the house and about an 
acre of land of Caleb K. Moore, October 7, 1841 [Essex Co. Deeds, 327:157.] 
and made his home here for the remainder of his life. Mr. James W. Bond re- 
members that in his boyhood, the floor joists were exposed as we see them now, 
but fashion decreed that a more modern style was to be preferred, and vandal 
hands chipped and hacked the venerable timbers, nailed laths upon them, 
and covered them from sight with very commonplace plastering. The old fire- 
place in the kitchen in the leanto was bricked up within his remembrance, and the 
latest addition on the northwest corner was built. 

Mr. Moore had purchased the house with an acre and eleven rods of land 
from Mr. Nathaniel Wade and others, heirs of the estate of Col. Joseph Hodgkins, 
in 1833, October 31st [Essex Co. Deeds, 271:164]. This was only half of the" 
Hodgkins estate, however, and on Aug. 11, 1841, the heirs sold the balance of the 
property, measuring an acre and eleven rods, to James Estes. As the deed de- 
scribes it, this piece of land extended down Winter street, to the barn and land of 
Joseph Farley, now occupied by the buildings of the Ipswich Mill, followed the 
line of the Farley land to the river, extended along the river bank to the Samuel 
Wade propc-ry, and followed this line to Moore's boundary line. The Hodgkins 
property thus extended from the main road to Topsfield to the river, and measured 
two acres and twenty-two rods. [Essex Co. Deeds, 326:215.] 

Col. Hodgkins had married for his third wife, Mrs, Lydia Treadvvell, relict of 
Elisha Treadvvell and daughter ofDea. John Crocker. Her brother, Joseph, at his 
death owned and occupied the house, and the other heirs sold their interest to her 
husband. The original deed of sale, bearing date of May i6th, 18 13, is before 



ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 



me as I write, conveying to Col. Hodgkins five-sixths of the estate for $750. One 
chamber was reserved to the unmarried sister, Elizabeth Crocker, who occupied it 
by the express provision of her father's will drawn in 1804. The deed still re- 
serves to Elizabeth "the great chamber in the west end of the house, with the priv- 
ilege of going in and out at the front dojr, and a right to use the entrv way and 
stairs in common, and a right to bake in the oven in the north-easterly room, to go 
to and from the well, and a privilege in the cellar to put and keep so much cider, 
vegetables and other necessaries sufficient for her own use, also liberty to pass and 
repass to and from the yard at the southwest end ot said house, and to keep therein 
the wood for her own use, said reservations to continue so long as she shall remain 
single and unmarried, as expressed in the last will and testament of said John 
Crocker deceased." Miss Sarah Wade, the granddaughter of Col. Hodgkins, is 
very sure that he did not take up his residence in the old mansion until 181 8, and 
she tells me that her father built on the pantry, which now serves as the hallway of 
the caretaker's tenement, in that vear, to increase the convenience of that portion of 
the house. Miss Wade, then a smart slip of a nine-year-old girl, was often at the 
house and has vivid recollection of her honored grandfather and his home. He was 
then 75 years old, with thin hair which was gathered into a queue, a very tall 
man with strongly marked Roman nose. How the venerable soldier must have 
bowed himself under these low doorways! His residence gives much character to 
our mansion. He had served as lieutenant in the Ipswich Company of Minute 
Men at Bunker Hill, and had fought at the battles on Long Island, at Harlem 
Heights, White Plains and Princeton, and was at Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. 
To his last days, he would have his pewter plate, which was kept with the platters 
on a high shelf in the kitchen. The dark passage-way from the kitchen to the bed- 
room served as a cheese room. The room we have occupied as our kitchen was 
the parlor, and the only carpet in the house covered the floor. Some roundabout 
chairs, and a pair of great brass andirons were included in the parlor furnishings, 
and a quaint colored English print of the Countess of Suffolk's house near Twicken- 
ham, published in 1749, hung on the wall, and is now owned by Miss Wade. 
The west room was the family sitting room, and in this room the old Revolution- 
ary soldier died, lying in an old press bed in the center of the room on Sept. 25, 
1829. 

Upstairs Miss Polly Crafts made her home in the East chamber, and worked 
at her loom, weaving. Through these rooms, the lively young Sarah roamed, 
turning over the hour-glasses, peering into the great fireplaces and looking up their 
black throats to see the stars, and scampering down across the garden to the old 
malt-house, on the site of the mill storehouse, to pick the wild roses that bloomed 



ANNUAL MEETING ^PRESIDEXT S REPORT. 21 

there in profusion. She slept in the little bedroom that opened from the West 
Lower Room, the night her grandfather died; and she remembers distinctly that the 
window in that room was diamond paned and opened like a door. Her brother, 
Mr. Francis H. Wade remembers a window of the same st\le in the front gable 
end. Follo\ving this clew, we have made all our windows with diamond-glass. 

Mrs. Hodgkins, as was said, was the daughter of Dea. [ohn Crocker. That 
excellent man disposed of his worldlv goods in his will as follows: 

In the name of God Amen. I John Crocker of Ipswich in the County of 

Essex as to my worldly goods and estate, [I] give, demise and dispose 

of the same as follows — viz. 

Imprimis. I give and devise to my son Joseph his heirs & assigns forever, 
my malt house and about one acre of land adjoining with the well and drane lead- 
ing to said malt house, also a desk that his mother brought to me when 

we were married. 

Item. I give and bequeath to mv daughter Elizabeth, the great Chamber in 
the west end of mv dwelling house so long as she shall remain single and unmar- 
ried. I also give her a case of drawers and a chest with two drawers, which was 
her mother's. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter, Eliz. one cow and 
two sheep, such as she shall choose, to be winterd and summerd for her by my son 
John, and also sixtv dollars in money. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter 
Mehitabel Appleton, sixty dollars in money. Item. I give to my son-in-law 
Thomas Appleton a note of hand I have against him dated April 28, 1795. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia Treadwell, sixty dollars in 
monev Item. I give to my grandson Thomas Wade and Samuel Wade thirty dol- 
lars each. Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughters Mary Waldron and 
Abigail Waldron, thirty dollars each. Item I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, 
Edward Waldron, at my decease, my great Bible. Item. I give and bequeath to 
my daughter Elizabeth, one feather bed and bedding which her mother brought to 
me, when I married her. Item. 1 give and bequeath to my three daughters and 
to my grand-children, children of my Daughters, Mary and Hannah, deceased, the 
whole of my household goods (excepting my silver tankard) to be equally divided 
between them. 

I give to my daughters aforenamed and my aforesaid grandchildren, at my 
decease, all my books to be divided in same manner as I have ordered my house- 
hold goods to be divided. Item. I give and devise to my son Joseph and to my 
daughter Elizabeth, and to their heirs and assigns in equal shares, my Pew in the 
South Meeting House in this town. Item. I give to my sons John and Joseph all 
my wearing apparel and farming utensils to be equally divided between them. 



11 ANNUAf- MEETrNG PRESIDENT S REI'ORT. 

Item. I give and devise to my son John and to his heirs and assigns forever all my 

buildings and lands, excepting such part of mv buildings and lands as I have before 
given to mv son Joseph and my daughter Elizabeth. Item. I give and bequeath 
to my said son, all my stock of cattle and sheep, all mv notes of hand, mv silver 
Tankard, and all the rest and residue of my estate. 

Mav 3, 1 804. 

[Essex Co. Probate Records 374:9:10.] 

An inventory and appraisement of the estate of Deacon John Crocker late of 
Ipswich. [Probate Records 374 : 81.] 

In the West lower room 

a clock 516 I looks glass $8 one desk ^5; 29.00 

a settee $3 black walnut table 4 foot, $2.50 5- 5° 
writing desk ^1 small round table ^1, light stand 30 cts 

stands candlesik 1.25 3.55 

one great chair and 6 small ditto viol back $3.50 i round table $1.25 4-75 

one small chair turkey worked 33cts hand iron, shovel & tongs $2.50 2.83 

one feather bed, bolster and pillows $23, bedstead sacking bottom %z 25.00 

curtains $1.50 3 blankets $4.50 calico quilt ^2 8.00 

tea salver $1.25 great Bible $4 other books & paphts $6.00 i i.. 25 

2 pair small scales & weights 80 cts hearth brush 25c 1.05 

Westerly bed room. 1 bed, bolster & pillows $27 under bed 

& bedstead $2.75 29.75 

2 blankets $z 2 do $3 i bed quilt $2 i coverlet $2 13 pr 

sheets ^22.75 31-75 

10 pair pillow cases $3.07 table cloths ^4.75 i 2 napkins $1.75 9-50 

East room 3 leathd chairs $1.50 round chair & cushion ^i 2.50 

four old. chairs 67 cts, small looking glass %\ 1.67 

pair small handirons 5oct small table i 2 ct 62 

East bed room, underbed, bedstead & cord $ 1. 25 3 coverlets $3.75 5.00 

two blankets %i i pair sheets %z linen wheel & reel %\ 5.00 

tinpail 33 cts scales & weights 50 cts wearing apparel $25 25.83 

32 ounces silver plate ^32.42 half dozen teaspoons ^2.50 34'92 

I pair shoe & knee buckles ^3 set gold buttons $3.50 6.50 

West chamber. i case drawers $1.50 one ditto faneerd $7 8.50 

six leath'd chairs $2.50 one great ditto ^3, small cane backd %\ 6.50 



ANNUAL MEETING — -PRESIDENT'S REPORT. 2 '5 

bed, bolster & pillows $22 under bed, bedstead & cord $3 35.00 

curtains & valions jgj one pair sheets $2.50 rcQ 

289.97 

one blanket $1.50 coverlet $1 bed quilt $2.00 4. Co 

small pair hand irons 50 cts i maple table $i small looking glass .25 1.75 

In the East chamber. 1 bed, bolster, & i pillow $25, under bed, 

bed std & cord $2.50 27. Co 

3 blankets $3.25 three bed quilts $^ 7.2q 

square oak table 50 cts. old chest and fire screen 75 ct 1.21; 

flaxcomb $1. iron-jack 75c T.yi; 

In the kitchen i brass kettle $3 one brass pan $2 r.cxj 

Pewter $9, handirons $2'. 50 shovel & tongs $1 12.50 

gridiron 50 cts candlesticks 50 toasting iron 50 i tq 

I pr brass candlesticks $1 iron and tin ware $6 7.00 

bell metal skillet 30 cts brass skillet j; i T.30 

tin ware $1.75 warming pan $1.00 pr bellows 25 ct 7.00 

earthen ware & glass bottles ^2 case with bottles $1.50 3- 50 

crockery ware & glass ditto ^3 3 tables $1.75 4-75 

a mortar 2 coffee mills flesh fork, skimer and skewers 2. 00 

3 iron bread pans $1 3 chests $1.50 meal chest 50 3,00 

kitchen chairs $1.50 old cask & tubs $2. 50 50 lb. salt pork $B 12.00 

cheese press §1.25 two spits $1.25 pails $1 J-Co 

Inventory of estate of foseph Crocker, maltster: 

House and barn and malt-house, with other buildings & land 900.0c 

I blue coat $3.00 i blue surtout coat $2.50 i blue grate coat $3.50 9.00 
I black waist coat $ i 2 green waist coats $ i 2 pair small cloths woolen 

and drawers $2 4.00 

I pair kersey meer small cloths 50 cts i pair nankin jacket, and breeches $1 1.50 
1 pair cotton and linen trowsers $1. 8 shirts $6.50 8 pair of hose $3.50 i i.oo 

1 pair leather gloves 12 cts. 2 silk and one linen handkerchief $1.75 1.87 
3 pr. old trowsers 75 cts 2 frocks $1. 2 pair of boots $3.75 2 pair 

of shoes $1 .50 7.00 

2 telt hats 60 cts. i gun, bayonet & snap sack and cartridge box ^5 5.60 
I gun & cartridge box, and 2 powder horns $2 live hare cleaned 60 cts 2.60 

John Crocker disposed of this property to his brother Joseph, though I find no 

record of the transaction, as Joseph's heirs sold to Col. Hodgkins. But in 



.s. 



24 ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

the return of the administrator of Joseph Crocker, in March 1 8 1 4, we find 
the items 

"five sixths of dwelling house and land sold to Joseph Hodgkins Esq. 750.00 

"to paid John Crocker 621.38 

Deacon John received the estate by inheritance from his father, Benjamin 
Crocker, a man ot excellent qualitv. He was graduated from Harvard College in 
1713, was Representative in 1726, 1734, ^Ti^y taught the "Grammar school 
many years, and often preached. He made his will after the pious fashion of his 
day and devised his property as follows: 

WILL OF BENJAMIN CROCKER. 

In the name of God, Amen. April 9, 1766. 

I Benjamin Crocker, of Ipswich in County of Essex, in New England, being 
in Health of Body and Mind & Memory (thro the Favour of Almighty God,) & 
calling to Mind the Uncertainty of Life and Certainty of Death, Do make and 
Ordain this my last Will and Testament, and Principally and above all I recom- 
mend my Soul into the Hands of God, Thro Jesus Christ, hoping for his sake and 
Righteousness to find acceptance with God at the great Day of his Appearing ; 
and my Body to decent Christian Burial : and touching such worldly Estate as God 
been pleased to bestow upon me, I give and dispose of the same in Manner follow- 
ing, viz. — 

Imprimis. I give to my well beloved wife Elizabeth fourteen pounds, and all 
that estate which she brought with her to me upon our Marriage; provided and on 
Condition she shall acquit all her Right or Claim and Interest in & to all the rest 
of my estate. 

Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Gunnison, the two best silver spoons, 
which, with what I gave her at her Marriage, together with what she held of land, 
which she had of land which she and her Brother sold to Charles Tuttle after her 
Marriage, which I account of a sufficient Part of my Estate. (The particulars of 
which I have set down in a Pocket Book in my Desk. ) 

Item. I give all the rest of my Estate both real and personal of what 
Nature soever to my son John Crocker, after my Debts and funeral Charges are 
paid by my said Son. Benjamin Crocker. 

[Probate Records 343:481] 

Mary Crocker, the first wife of Benjamin, received the property from her 
father. Major John Whipple. No record of sale, gift or inheritance from her 
remains, but the identity of the property is indisputable as will appear from our 
subsequent study of adjoining estates. 



ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 25 

The will of Major John ^^'hipple, Crocker's father-in-law, is of much interest 
and I append it in tull : 

WILL OF MAJOR JOHN WHIPPLE. 

In the name of God Amen. The thirtieth day of August I722. I John 
Whipple, of Ipswich, In the County of Essex in New England, being sick & 
weak of Bodv but of perfect Mind & Memorv, Thanks be Given to God therefore. 
Calling to Mind y« Mortality of my Body Sc knowing y^ Is Appointed for all Men 
Once to Dve Doe make and Ordaine This my Last Will & Testament; that Is to 
sav principally & first of all I Give and recommend mv Soul Into the hands of 
God that Gave it, and mv Body I Recomend to ve Earth to be buryed in a Decent 
& Christian Buriall att ye Discretion of my Exec, nothing Doubting but att ye 
Genii Resurrection I shall receive the same againe by ye Almightv power of God; 
and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith It hath pleased God to bless in This 
Life, I Give, Demise & Dispose ot the same in the following Manner or Forme. 

Impr. I give to mv Daughter Marv Crocker & To the Heirs of her Body 
Law'fully begotten mv now Dwelling House & Homestead with all the buildings 
upon the same. Also I give to mv Daughter Crocker all ye furniture both of the 
parlour and Parlour chamber also one Bed More such as shee shall Chuse with all 
ye furniture to ye same belonging, also Three pair of Sheets, Two Large Table 
Cloths & Two Smaller Ones & Two Dozen of Napkins, also I give unto my 
Daughter Crocker all the utensills of y'^ Kitchen & Leantoe & also my two Neb 
oxen & all my Utensills for husbandrv, also One old Common Right & mv Negro 
Man & Two Cowes. 

Item. I give to mv son-in-law Benj. Crocker my and fouling piece. 

Item. I give to my Grandson, W'" Brown, my pistolls and holsters. 

It. I give to my Granddaughter, Martha Brown, forty pounds. 

It. I give to Daughter Rogers my Negroe Woman Hannah. 

It. I give to my Grandson, John Rogers, twenty pounds and after all my 
Lawful debts and all y"^ above Legacies & my funerall Charges are all payd, the 
whole of my Estate which shall then remaine Both real and personal. Bills, Bonds, 
Whatsoever to be honestly apprized & Equally Divided between my Three daugh- 
ters, Martha, Mary & Susannah. [Probate Records 313:458] 

INVENTORY. [313:555] 
Wareing apperell ^30 Book 80s Bills and Bonds ^182-14-6 

horse & mare etc;^ii2 328 14 6 



64 


3 o 


6 


15 


1 7 


4 ° 


6 


6 


5 


8 


9 


6 


7 


I 8 



26 ANNUAL MEKTING PRKSIDF.NI 's REPORT. 

COWS, Steers, hcfFers & calves ^-|-7 9s Household stuff in y^ Hall 
£16 14s 

Household goods in v^ bedroom below jQz ^s in v"-' bed room above 90s 

In the Kitchen Chamber ^J 8s Sheets, Pillow beers, Napkins, Table 
cloths. To wells 196s 

1 2 yds Linnin Cloth 409 l 2 yds Druggt 409 20 yds Cotton & 
Linnin 40s old Curtain 6s 

2 blankets, 2 Coverlids, I Rugg, 60s I Reel i os Linncn c\' Worsted 
yarn 38s 

wool 10s Cotton vvooll ^os bottles 203 2 sadles 96s 12 bar'-'"'^ 24s 
2 tubbs 69 

5 swine iocs Calash &: Tackling 40s Slay i 8s 

an old saw mill standing on Ipswich River with y<^ apurtenances be- 
longing to y^ mill without y*^ priviledge of y*-' streem 15 00 
An addition of the Parsonall Estate of John Whipple Esq. taken April i 7th, 

1723. 

One silver headed Cain 35s one walnut staff with silver head 13s 280 

one old Desk 3s pr Cards is 4d 1 Knife and fork 2s about 50 Gro. 

buttons old 63 0124 

I pr sheers 6d i old press ? 1 8s i pine chest 4s i Table 4s i Do 

2S 2 old Chairs is i pr stillards 5s 1146 

When the Rev. John Rogers receipted for his son's legacy, as his guardian, it 
is recorded that it was in accordance with the will of "Major John Whipple." 
It is important that every clew however slight to the successive generations of 
Whipples be noted, as we enter now a bewildering maze of John Whipple, Cap- 
tain John, Major John, Cornet John, Elder John, John Senior, etc., through which 
it is verv difficult to thread our way. 

This will of Major Whipple drawn in 1722 contains one item of note in 
determining the age ot different portions of the house. It mentions the ''kitchen & 
Leanto." One addition, at least, had been made prior to this date; but whether 
it was the very small leanto that seems to have been built first on the northeast 
corner, or the larger and later addition that provided a new kitchen, we can not 
determine. I incline to the former hypothesis, as there is mention of only four 
rooms in the will and inventory. Two slaves are included in his estate, a negro 
man, who was given to Dame Crocker, and Hannah, who became the property ot 
the minister's wife, Mrs. John Rogers. We are glad that she was a person ot 
sufficient note to be mentioned bv name. The humble black man, who was sand- 



ANNUAL MEETING I'RESIDENT S REPORT. 2~J 

wichcd in between *'an old common right" and "Two Cowes," is mentioned 
only as a chattel . 

Major John Whipple was the eldest son of Captain |ohn Whipple Senior, who 
made his will in 1683. The will is of value, and is inserted in full. The Inven- 
tory, which follows, is minute and is published in a verv slightly abridged form. 



THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CAPT. JOHN WHIPPLE, 

SEN. OF IPSWICH. 

I, John Whipple Sen of Ipswich, having not settled my estate before in case 
of death do thus order the estate which God hath graciously given me. Inprimis 
my will is yt Elizabeth, my well beloved wife, shall enjoy one halfe of my 
dwelling house so long as shee shall see cause to live therein, and if mv execuf'^ 
shall provide her y*^ going of a cow or two, with y*^ use of an horse for her occa- 
sions during yt time: And my will further is yt my execuf'^ shall pay or cause to 
be paid unto her fifteen pounds b\' y"= year, besides w^ is already mentioned during 
y^ time of her naturall Life. Item, my will is yt my daughf Susan Lane shall 
have y'^ portion w^'' she hath already Receiv^ed (which I judge to be about seaventy 
pound) made up an hundred and fifty pounds, in like specie as before. I will also 
that my sd daughter shall have y^ remainder of her portion paid her within three 
years after my decease, my will likewise is, that my youngest daughter Sarah 
Whipple shall be brought up with her mother (if shee be willing thereunto) and 
my executors to allow her w' maintenance is necessary thereunto, & to have like- 
wise an hundred and fifty pounds for her portion at the time of her marriage, or 
when she comes to one and twenty years of age. Concerning my three sons, it 
was my intent y* if my estate were divided into five parts y' my eldest son should 
enjoy two fifth parts thereof, y^ other three to be left for y*^ other three viz. 
Matthew, Joseph & Sarah. But apprehending that I am not like to escape this 
sicknesse, I thus dispose concerning the same, viz. I will that my son John and 
my son Matthew shall be execuf^ of this my last will & testament for y*^ present & 
y' my son Joseph shall be joyned as an execuf w"> them two, as soon as ever he 
comes to be of age. And then my Will is that if my son John enjoys all y^^ Lands, 
houses, buildings & appurtenances, and Priviledges thereunto belonging where he 
now lives together with y'^ Land in y'^ hands of Arthur Abbot to be Added there- 
unto: And that my son Matthew enjoy es y*^ Lands, houses, where he now lives, 
the appurtenances & priviledges w''^ y<^ saw mill & y" Land in y^ tenure of Fennell 
Ross, y' then my son Joseph when he comes of Age shall enjoy y"^ houses, build- 
ings. Malting office, w''' y'^ other Lands, pasture. Arable & meadow where I now 



28 ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

live as his right of Inheritance & portion, to him and his heires forever, provided 

y« my son John do help him to order & manage y*^ same till he himselfe comes of 

Age. And also mv will is that then he pay an hundred pound out of his estate to 

his sister Sarah, and v^ rest of her and her sister Susan's portion to be paid out of 

y*^ Debts and other chattels which are found belonging to my estate. But if my 

two elder sons be not satisfied with this Distribution of my Reall estate, my will is 

yt my whole estate (with w^hat is in my son John's and Matthew's hands already 

of houses and lands) both reall and personal be equally divided by indifferent 

Apprizall into five parts, and if then my eldest son shall have two fifths thereof, my 

son Matthew another fifth, and if Joseph shall have another fifth and y^ y^ last fifth 

shall be improved to pay debts and other Legacies and y' w' ever land falls to any 

of my three sons shall be to them and their Heires f )rever. In witness whereof I 

have set to my hand & scale this second of x^ugust 1683. 

John Whipple. 

my will also is y' if my two sons, John & Matthew choose 

to enjoy y*^ farmes y' then J"° shall also have y^ ten acres 

of marsh by Quilters & Matthew as much of my marsh in JOHN WHIPPLE 

ye Hundreds to them and their Heires forever excepting y'^ 

marsh in y«= Island w'^'^ may be sold to pay debts. 

signed, sealed & Delivered in presence of us 

William Hubbard 
Samuel Phillips 
Daniel Epps 
[Probate Records 304:10] 

An Inventory of the Estate of Captaine John Whipple of Ipswich, taken by 
us whose names are underwritten the tenth of Septemb'' 1683 

Imprs His wearing Apparell, Woollen & Linnen prized at ^27 i8s 27 18 o 

It. A feather Bed & Bolste>' ^5 curt"^ vallins, coverl^ all of 

searge ^ i 2 
It. ADiaper tablecloth at ^2 5s a shorter Diaper tablecloth ^ I 2S 6d 
It. An old cupboard cloeth 2s Lesser cupboard cloeth 5s towells 4s 
It. Three Pillow Beeres 9s 9 Diaper napkins 13s 6d 8 napkins 7s 
It. Turkey worke tor chairs & fringe & cloeth to make them £^ 5s 
It. Linsy woolsey cloeth 12s 3d a Remnant of Broad cloth 6s a yd 

Kersey 8 s i ' 

It. Fine cloth to bottom chairs ^-^ 13s cushions 9s a chest of 

drawers ;^2 15s 61; 



17 








3 


/ 


6 




1 1 





I 


9 


6 


3 


5 






ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

It. Two cushion stuoles at 6s a great chaire 5s Brass cob irons ^ i 5s 
It. A looking glass los two wicker baskets ^s gloves 3s four 

chairs j£ i 12s 
It. Two bolsters ;^ I )S coverlid ^i a blanket & sheet ;^i 
It. A Bedstead & cover i6s 6 fine wrought chairs ^2 8s 
Jt. Three Leather chairs 9s fring chaire 6s a great chair 6s 

It. Fine Stool fringe 6s cushions 4s (covered) 

It. A fine wrought form & stoole 7s brass fire pan tongs & snufi-ers 

It. Two pair of iron tongs & a warming pan i 2S a case of knives 55 

It. PistoUs, holsters & Belt £2 15s one cushen and matt 7s 

It. Brush & Broomes 2s 3 Pictures 3s a Book of Maps 5s 

It. Thirteen napkins & towells los a course table cloth los 

It. Two old table-cloths two towells &: two cheese cloth 6s 

It. Three sheetes i 8s one sheet 8s one pair of sheets 1 6s 

It. One pair of fine sheets ^i 5s an old pair 6s old Books 2S 

It. Two course pillow beers 3s three bolster cases 7s 3 pillow 

beeres I sheet 
It. One sheet i 2S 6d old sheet 4s another 4s one sheet 8s 
It. A sheet & Bolster case 3s 6d a Pillow case & drawers 2s 
It A yellow silk scarfc 12s an old yellow scarfe los 
It. A yard ^ fine holand i 5s Remn'^ of hol'«'» 3s yarns, thread 

tape 7s 150 

It. One chest 6s a Rapeyer <& Belt ^i 13s a cutlas 15s a 

Rapeyer los 340 

It. Files and sawes 3s chissells, gouges, gimblets 3s 8d 6 8 

It. Three pair of sheares 4s 6d two locks 2s one auger is 76 

It. One auger is a span shackle & pin 2S old Iron & stirrup irons 6s 9 o 

It. Two old Bills IS whissells 3s Basket & Gloves 3s 070 

It. A Basket & yarne 3s scales & lead weights i 2s 0150 

It. A compas 2s a file is A Razor & hone 3s Box & old iron 2S 6d 086 
It. A great Bible 1 6s in Books ^5 8s 9d 5 Bonles of syrrup 

of clove gilly fl 7^9 

It. Three bottles of Rosewater 6s two Bottles of mint water 3s 90 

It. A Glass Bottle of Port wine 2s Angelica water sirrup of gilli 

fill's, strawberry water 3 Bottles 4s 3 pint Bottles a great 

Glass 4s 100 

It. Three greate Gaily Pots w* w« was in them 4s 2 earthen 

chamber pots, etc lo o 





29 


I 


16 


2 


10 


3 


5 


3 


4 


I 


I 


1 


3 




17 


3 


2 




lo 


1 







6 


2 


2 


I 


13 


I 


5 


i 


8 6 




5 6 


I 


2 



JO AN'N'UAL meeting PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

It. A Box Drawers, two peices of twine £i 2s a 'bag with sugar 

IS 6d 
It. Spurs and wyer is 6d 2 cavnes 2s croaper and a girdle is 3d 
It. A Bedstead and cover above and below curtains and vallance ;^ 2 6d 
It. A cupboard with small things in it £2 3d A deske and 

drawers i 2s 21 

It. A small Box is a brush and a stock to do limmes is 6d o : 

It. Seaven di&hes of white earthen ware one Bason and a sully bub 

pot 1 6s 
It. One glass slick stone earthen porrenger and pot 3* 2 flower 

pots IS 
It. eight cushens j£ i los table los great chair 4s 3 small 

chaires 65 
It. To a great chaire 4s window curtain is 6d part of a Buriing 

cloth 8s 
It. Forty cheeses j£^ an apple trough 6s two powdering tubs 

6s 6d Lether 2s 
It. Three beer Barrells 8s a great glass is a powdering tub 5s 

and old tubs 48 
It. Two andirons 14s churn 4s firkin w'^ 4 lb of butter £1 5s — 
It. Two earthen pots 2s 4 pound candles 2s 8d a hand jack 

is 3d 2 p"" scales gaily pot 
It. The best pewter 77 lb £j 14s 10 lb more of pewter ^i old 

pewter 15 lb ^i candlesticks £1 
It. a Bed pan 9s two basons 8s four old candlesticks 9s 5 salt 

sellers 5s one more 2s 
It. Two Basons & 4 Pottingers one beaker 9s 6 new pottingers 

7s 6d a pottinger 43 
It. Two pint pots 6s flagon 14s 2 quart pots 6s 
It. Two old chamb"" pots los 4 lb old pewter & a 3 qt bason 9s 

cop"" pot 63 tin-ware 6s tin ? 
It; Plate one bowle ? ^3 three spoons ^1 los silver cup los 

pair buttons 2s 6d three pair buttons 3s one buckle is a pair 

of shoe buckles 63 3 dozen of plate buttons £ 1 
It. a still with Instrum'* belonging £1 los tin lanthorn is beams 

for scales & weights 
It. a Box iron 4s a smoothing iron is a brass copp'='' ;^7 a great 

Brass pan jCz 14s 



ANNUAL MEETING PRF.SIDENt's REPORT. 

It. Two small brass pans ^i 12s 6d old copper kittle 19s a 

brass kittle ^j 5s 
It Two small brass skillets 6s 2 small brass Ladles c^- one skimmer 

4s 6d 
It. A brass bason 4s skillet 5s a little brass kettle 7s skillet 4s 
It. Wool combs vv'l' belongs to them i 6s a brass chafeing dish 3s 
It. Two bell mettle pots one ^2 5s y"-' other £1 5s an iron 

kettle 8s & lit' iron pot 
It. Two dozen of trenchers is 6d one trav 6 old dishes w'l' other 

dishes 3s 4d two piggins is 6d 
It. Three checshoopes is earthen Pitcher 3d one paylc, one piggin 

& strainer 3s ^d 
h. An iron pot & pot-hooks 9s 6d two tramels w''' irons to hang 

upon I 2s 
It. a pair oi bellows, meat forke, augar .^ gridiron 4s a trammel 

with hooks to it i 2s 
It. a fowling piece ;i^i los two carbines £2 a jack, weight l*v: a 

spit £2 10 
It. a salt box Sc salt is two old bibles is 4 old chairs & old 

jovnt stoole 4s 
It. a mealc trough 6s sives 3s 6d shreding knife is frying pan 

and marking iron 4s 
It. a cushion 3s cap & fardingalls is a kettle & skillet 9s 
It. a bed & bedding 15s old spinning wheel 3s an old chest 3s 
It. The Homestead at towne, dwelling house, kilne & other houses 
It. a great saddle bridle cS: breast plate, crouper w^'' a cover at ;^3 los 
It. I'istols, holsters, breast plate crooper & simiter £2 5s 
It. a tramel & slice 6s 
It. two keelers 4s 

It. I-awrence y'^ Indian at ;^4 3 yds crape at 6s 
It. The farme Landes, Arthur Abbots housing cSj land 
It. Fennel Rosses housing & land 
It. The saw-mill w''' all implements belonging to it 
It. |ohn's house & barn & kilne at 140 
It, Matthew's house & barn 

The total appraisal was ;^3 3i4. 

It will be noticed that the homestead was apportioned to Josepli in the will, 





31 


3 


12 6 





10 6 


I 








19 


+ 


4 





16 4 




5 


! 


I 6 





16 


6 








6 




14 6 




•3 


1 


I 


y^o 





3 


10 


2 


5 




6 




4 


4 


6 


190 





190 





40 





140 





140 






jf ANNUAL MEETtNC— PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

but in the final division as it is recorded under date of Oct. 31, 1684, John re- 
ceived "the mansion house his father deceased in wrh Barn, outhouses, Kihic, or- 
chards &: homestead wth commonage & privileges in and upon Two acres & a haU 
of land be it more or less, called ye Homestead in Ipswich Towne." [Book 305: 
folio 135]. 

Captain Whipple's farm lands included the present Gardner estate, I judge, 
in Hamilton. His wealth was very unusual in his day, and the appraised value of 
the house with its modest house lot is phenomenal. It was valued at ;^33o. 

Gen. Denison's property was inventoried the year before, 1682, and his 
dwelling house was appraised at ^160. [Ipswich Records 4:506]. He was a 
man of wealth [^2105], and his house had been built but a tew years, as his 
earlier residence had been burned, yet this fine residence as we may imagine it to 
have been, was reckoned worth less than half as much as Capt. Whipple's 
mansion. 

Dep. Gov. Samuel Symonds died on Oct. 13th, 1678, five years before, 
leaving an estate of 2534 pounds sterling, but his house and about two acres in 
town, in the very center, were estimated worth only one hundred and fifty pounds. 

These valuations confirm me in the belief that Captain Whipple's mansion 
was the grandest in the town or in the larger neighborhood. He inherited a com- 
fortable fortune from his father, John Whipple, the elder of the church. His will 
and inventory made in the year i66g, and indorsed upon the outside "Elder John 
Whipple" are as follows: 

WILL OF JOHN WHIPPLE, SENIOR— 1669. 

[Filed, not recorded.] 

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Whipple Senior of Ipswich in New 
England, being in this present time of perfect understanding and memory, though 
weake in body, committing my soule into the hands ot Almighty God, and my 
body to decent buryall, in hope of Resurrection unto Eternall life by the Merit 
and power of Jesus Christ, my most mercyfull Saviour and Redeemer, doe thus 
dispose of the temporall Estate w'^^ God hath graciousely given mee. 
Imprimis. I give unto Susanna Worth of Newbery my eldest daughter thirty 

pounds and a silver beer bowle and a silver wine cup. 
Item. I give unto my daughter Mary Stone twenty pounds and one silver wine 

cup, and a silver dramme cup. 
Item. I give unto my daughter Sarah Goodhue twenty pounds. And all the rest 

of my houshold goods my will is that they shall be equally divided betwixt _my 



ANNUAL MEETING I'RESSDENT S REF'ORT. ^3 

three daughters afore sayd. But tor their other Legacycs mv will is that they 
should be pavd them \v"iin two yeares at'ter my decease : and if it should so tall 
out y^ any of my daughters above sa\d should be taken away bv death before 
this time of pa\ment be come, m\- will is that the Respective Legacyes be 
payd to their Heyres when they come of age. Likewise I give unto Antony 
Potter, my son-in-law sometime, fourtv shillings. 

Moreover I give unto fennett my beloved Wife ten pounds which my will is 
y' it should be pavd her besides the fourteen pound, and y*^ annuity of six 
pounds a veare engaged unto her in the Articles of Agreement before our 
Marr}-age. Concerning the fourscore pound, which is to be Returned backe 
to her after my decease, my will is y' it should be payed (both for time and 
manner of Pay) according to y^ savd Agreement, viz: one third part in 
wheat, Mault and Indian Corne in equall proportions, the other two thirds in 
neat Cattle under seaven yea'*^ old. Further my will is y' no debt should be 
charged upon my said wife as touching any of her daughters, untill it be first 
proved to arise from the account ot Mercy, Sarah or Mary. 
I do appynt my loving friends, M'' WilHam Hubbard and Mr. John Rogers of 
Ipswich, the overseers of this my last will and Testament, and I doe hereby 
give them power to determine any difference y* may arise betwixt my executor, 
and any of the Legatees, aforesayd, about y^ payments aforesayd. Lastly I 
ordayn and Appoynt my son John Whipple the sole executor of this my last 
will and Testament. To whom I give all the rest of my estate, both houses, 
lands, cattle. Debts from whomsoever due and to his heyres forever. 
In confirmation w'hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this loth day 

of May, 1669. In the presence of 

William Hubbard The marke of 

Robert Day 

The marke of | | | Edward Lummas John "^ Whipple 

This will was presented in court held at Ipswich the 28 of September, 1669, 
by the oath of Mr. Wry Hubbard and Robert Day to be the last will and testa- 
ment of Elder John Whipple deceased to the best of their kuowleage. As attest. 
Robert Lord, cleric. 

An inventory of the estate of Mr. John Whipple deceased the 30 oi June, 
1669. 

Impr. The farme contayning about three hundred and sixty acres i 50 00 
It. The houses and lands in ye Tow^ne contayning about one hun- 
dred acres 250 00 
It. In apparell 900 



34 

I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 



ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 



In linnen 

A fFeather bed with appurtenances 

In Plate 

In Pewter 

In Brasse 

In chavres, cushions, & other small things 

A still 

Two flock Beds 

Two Tables 

One musquet, one pr of mustard quernes 

Andirons, firepan & tongs 

Two mortars, two spitts 

In Bookes 



6 


O 


o 


7 


O 


o 


6 


O 


o 


4 


O 


o 


3 


lO 


o 


I 


7 


o 




i6 


o 


I 


lO 


o 


o 


1 I 


o 




'5 


o 




•4 


o 




lO 


o 


2 


8 


o 



444 • o 



Ipswich July 15th '69 

Richard Hubbard 

John Appleton 
(The originals are endorsed -'Elder John Whipple)" 

The inventory was delivered in court held at Ipswich the 28 of September, 1669, 
upon the oath of cornett John Whipple to be a full & true inventory of the estate ot 
his ffather, deceased, to the best of his knowledge and if more appears afterward it 
should be added. As attest, 

Robert Lord, Cleric. 
The Elder's estate included the large 360 acre farm which had been divided 
into several by the prosperous Cornet and Captain, and other property, entered as 
*<houses and lands in ye Towne contayning about one hundred acres," valued at 
^^250. The two acre homelot and homestead was contained in this beyond a 
doubt, but we can not be sure how mnch else is included. It does not seem possi- 
ble that Captain Whipple's mansion should have been identical with the Elder's 
house. The great increase in value within the short period of fourteen years, 
1669 — 1683, indicates at least a substantial enlargement or rebuilding. This 
supposition harmonizes perfectly with the fact, apparent to every observer, that the 
eastern half of the present edifice was added to the western portion, and the elab- 
orate and costly style of the newer work presupposes such ample wealth as Cap- 
tain Whipple possessed. 

A very interesting parallel to such an enlargement is found in the old 
Howard or Ringe house, as it is called, near the Stone Bridge on Turkey Shore. 



ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENTS REPORT. 3 5 

In William Howard's will dated Jul}' 23d, 1709, he says, "Item, I give unto 
my loving and well-beloved wife the use both of the old end of mv house man- 
sion and of the new end, so far as she shall have occasion for during her nat- 
ural life." 

"Item. I give to my two sans John and Samuel Howard, viz. to my son 
John, the new end of my house mansion which is not yet fully finished, with 
half the stack of chimneys built in said new end, which will best serve for the 
use thereof. 

*'Item. I give to mv son Samuel mv old mansion house and also one-half 
of the stack of chimnevs built in the new end of said house, which will best suit 
for the accommodation ot said mansion house. 

Evidentlv a considerable change in the chimnev of the old house was in- 
volved, and in our house, it is evident that the chimney stack was enlarged when 
this new portion was added. The Western half of our house was probably there- 
fore Elder Whipple's home, and as the fashion of houses was in those days, it was 
a very good and comfortable house, much larger and better than many which 
were built in that period. Did he baild it? Probabl/. Yet when he acquired 
his full title to the estate, a house was already built. The deed is recorded in the 
old Ipswich Record, (1.89) and reads thus: 

Md. that I, John Fawne, gent, do by these presents, allow, certjfie & con- 
firme, unto Mr. John Whipple his heires and assigns forever, a certaine bargaine & 
sale of an house & house lott in Ipswich conteining by estimation two acres & a 
halfe, more or lesse, formerly sould unto the said John Whipple by John Jolly, 
Samuell Appleton, John Cogswell, Robert Muzzey, & Humphrey Broadstreete & 
doe hereby release all my right and title thereunto, as witness my hand & scale, 
this I oth day of October, 1650 John Fawne. 

The original deed is not to be found, and this quit claim deed only perfects 
the title to the property, which was purchased by Whipple from six well-known 
citizens acting in some collective capacity, not yet discoverable. But it is of great 
value as proving Fawn's original ownership. But John Whipple was living on 
this spot in 1642, for in that year the town ordered that John Whipple "should 
cause the fence to be made between the house late Captain Denison's and the sayd 
John Whipple, namely on the side next Capt. Denison's." But Fawn's occu- 
pancy of this location had ceased in 1638, inasmuch as in our Town Record, it 
was recorded in 1638, that eight acres had been granted to Samuel Appleton 
above the Mill, the Town River on the South East, the house lot formerly John 
Fawne's North East, and the highway leading into the Common, North west." 
Whipple may have been living there at that early period, but I cannot believe 



■j6 ANNUAL .MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. 

that even the oldest part of this venerable house could have been in existenee then. 
The original Whipple house, was probably some cheap, hastily built affair of logs 
and thatch. It was only when life became less precarious in the new settlement, 
that time and trouble could be taken to build substantial dwellings. 

These ancient grants afford us the first links in the chain of collateral evidence 
which confirms our identification of the property mentioned in these various wills 
with our mansion and lot. 

Our Town Record mentions that Mr. Fawne had a houselot adjoining to Mr. 
Appleton, six acres near the mill. 

Daniel Denison had a house let, next Mr. Fawne's "to come to the scirt of 
the hill next the swamp." Denison's lot is again described as "near the mill, 
containing about two acres, which he hath paled in and built an house upon it, 
having Mr. Fawn's house lot on rhe South west." 

Denison's property included the tract bounded by Market, Winter & Union 
Sts. The Appleton lot was on both sides of the Topsfield road, beyond the present 
railway crossing. Fawn's land lay ketween them. As he sold only two and a 
half acres to Whipple the balance of his original grant had been sold apparently to 
Mr. Appleton as he always appears as the abutter on the western side. 

The grant to Denison originally included a lot that hounded the Whipple land 
on the South-East, i. e. toward the River. This \vas owned afterwards by John 
Burnham and Anthony Potter. A portion of this original Denison grant was 
owned by Jeremiah Belcher. 

On the occasion of his marriage with Mary Lockwood, Belcher conveyed to 
Mr. Robert Paine, Richard Brown of Newbury and Rob. Lord of Ipswich, "in 
behalf of the sayd Mary etc." "his now dwelling house with out-houses, orchards 
yards, gardens & all other the appurtenances and priviledges thereunto belonging, 
which house is scituate, lying & being in Ipswich aforesayd, neare the mill on the 
north side the river, having the said river toward the southeast, and the land of 
John Whipple toward the norwest." 30:7:1652 [Ipswich Deeds, i:239]Twelve 
years later, Jeremiah Belcher mortgaged his farm & town property to Capt. Geo. 
Corwin. The dwelling and land about it is described as follows: "On the West 
side of the Mill River, having the River on the East side thereof", the land of Elder 
Whipple on the west, and on the north, the Towne and mill & bordering south- 
ward, upon the land of Elder Whipple. [Essex Deeds, 2:92.] 

On the 8th of April, 1672, Anthony Potter sold Samuel Belcher (son of 
Jeremiah) a small piece of land, "joyneing to the houselott of Jeremiah Belcher and 
hounded therewith and with the river on the South and Southwest syde, and with 
the houselott of John Whipple on the Northwest and with the highway on the North 



ANNUAL MEETING PRESIDENT S REPORT. ^7 

East, all which piece of hind I had of John Burnham." [Ipswich Deeds, 3:223."! 

On April 20th, 1672, the Rev. Samuel Belcher, Pastor on the Isle of Shoals, 
sold to Edward Lumase, in behalf of Richard Saltonstall, Esq. 

"A parcell of ground near unto the mill, f)r to sett a house upon for the miller, 
that shall keepe the mills from tyme to time, to live and dwell in while he or they 
.shall keepe the sayd mills," "conteineing about six rodds of land bounded by a 
fence of pales toward the West, the barne of- Jeremiah Belcher toward the South, 
■downe to a rocke near the end of the sd. barne toward the East, & comon land or 
highway, where gravell hath beene digged towards the North." [Ipswich Deeds, 
3:329-] 

This is the only deed which contains the name of Saltonstall. Before 
remarking on it, let me add two others. Marv Belcher, the widoAv of Jeremiah, set 
over to her son Samuel, who then resided in Ipswich, "all that houselott given & 

made over to me by wav of jointure on Marriage, bounded by y^ 

grist mill in Ipswich easterly, Mr. John Appleton's land Southerly, Mr. John 
Whipple's land Northerly, the other part bounded bv the way to sd Land or lott, 
and partly by land granted to Major Dennison, now possessed and built on by 
Samuel Belcher." Novem. 11:1692 [Essex Deeds 49:251] 

In 17 1 3, Sept. 25, Mr. Samuel Belcher sold this property to Capt. John 
Whipple "one halfe acre of Land be ye sarne more or less with y^ house, barn and 

orchard standing thereon bounded northeasterly by a highway Leading to y^ 

mill. Southeasterly by Ipswich River, Southwesterly by Land of Col. John Apple- 
ton, Northwesterly by Land ot y^ above sd Capt. John Whipple." 

[Essex Deeds, 29:61] 

Comparing these deeds it will be seen at once that the bit of land sold to Mr, 
Saltonstall for the miller's house, was only a part of Samuel Belcher's land, and 
that the whole Belcher property was bounded then, as it had been for many years 
by the Whipple estate. Apart from that a six rod lot is rather small for a mansion 
like this, though it were then only half its present length. 

The old Jeremiah Belcher lot reappears in the "Brackenbury lot" which 
William Brackenbury, of North Carolina, planter, then in Ipswich, sold to Nath. 
Farley about ^ acre, which is bounded by John Crocker, the River and other land 
of Farley's. On April 30:1771, [Essex Deeds 129:112] when the heirs of 
Joseph Crocker sold to Col. Hodgkins, the lot was bounded by land of Enoch 
Pearson and Joseph Farley, the river, etc. 

Not a link of any importance is lacking. The direct pedigree of the land is 



3» . ANiVLTAL MEETrxG — -PRESIDEXT S REF'ORT. 

through Fawn, the Whipples, and the Crockers to Col. Hodgkins. The abutting- 
estates are alwavs bounded hv these owners. Mr. Saltonstall never owned an inch 
of land on this site. The estate alwavs includes two or two and a half acres. I 
dwell on this onlv in the interest of exact historic truth. We cannot call our 
house bv the name of Saltonstall. If any name is given it, that of Whipple has 
first claim. 

To my mind the particular name we give this house is of small moment. 
The old mansion itself is a constant reminder of all the glorious names which 
hallow and illumine the earlv vears of our town life, Saltonstall and Winthrop, 
Svmonds and Denison, Ward and Norton and Hubbard and all the rest. They 
were all friends of the Elder. Every one of them may have crossed our threshold. 
As we sit here in the flickering fire-light we seem to see them sitting as of old, and 
conversing on the great themes, matters of public safety, affairs of church and 
state, and the momentous events that were happening in the dear old England, 
which were much in their minds. The old pavement in the door yard rings again 
with the hoof-beats of Capt. Whipple's horse hurrying to lead his troopers on a 
swift ride to Andover to repel an Indian assault. John Appleton and Thomas 
French are talking in this very room of their imprisonment and trial for advocating 
resistance to the royal governor's edict, and demanding representation before they 
would submit to taxation. Col. Hodgkins and Col. Wade and Major Burnham 
smoke and sip their steaming cups and chat of Bunker Hill and Yorktown, of Bur- 
goyne and Cornwallis, Washington and Lafavette. 

The rumble of Polly Crafts' loom overhead, the whirr of spinning wheels, 
the beat of the churn, the roar of great winter fires, the hissing of meats on the 
long spits, the voices of children at their play, or demurely reciting the catechism, 
the good-wife's chat with neighboring gossips, the loud laughter of the slaves, the 
tale of love, the solemn declaration of the last Will and Testament, the weeping 
of mourners blend strangely together in these low vaulted rooms. 

We see visions as we sit and dream, of Thanksgiving feast days, when the 
long tables groaned under their weight of delicacies, of weddings and flinerals, 
of home-comings and leave-takings. 

Thus the life of the ancient times revives again, the history of other days 
becomes a living reality, and the sombre old mansion is made a living, speaking 
witness to the naturalness, the simplicity, the sturdiness, the refinement, the devo- 
tion of the old Puritan home life. 

It remains for us, catching the inspiration of this hour, to make this house a 
worthy memorial of the Past. 



.ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF COMMITTEK OX REPAIRS, 39 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REPAIRS. 

By vote of the Society, the old house with land under and adjoining, measur* 
ing I 10 feet S, E. on the Damon line, 103 feet N. W,, 94 feet N. E. on land of 
Bond, and 70 feet, S. E. on the street, was purchased of Mr. Bond for S1650. 

The work on the house was begun in the latter part of May. The first step 
was to remove the ceiling from the rooms as it was evidently of late date, disclos- 
ing the original plastering upon the floor boards of the second story. Fortunatelv 
this old ceiling was so well preserved in the upper rooms, that a series of patches 
and several coats of whitewash, restored it to a very satisfactory condition. The 
modern small fire places were torn away, disclosing the great originals, which were 
so well preserved in the main that it was an easv task to restore them to their first 
form. 

This was followed by a thorough scraping and scouring of all the wood work 
to remove the grime of years, and innumerable coats of whitewash. The 
moulded edges of the main beams and the fine beading on the boarding of the par- 
titions and the old doors, rendered this work of cleaning slow and dilhcult, but the 
result has justified the expenditure involved. The heavy work of repair was en- 
trusted to Mr. Edward W. Choate. Under his supervision new sills were placed 
under the whole house, a considerable portion of the lower story was re-studded 
and newly boarded, new clapboards laid, and the roof virtually rebuilt. The 
decayed portions of the ornamental beams on the gable end were skilfully removed, 
yawning weather cracks deftly filled, and the lines of the old building everywhere 
restored with fidelity. Within, new floors were laid throughout the house, but the 
joists of the second floor were in perfect condition. Considerable portions of the 
brick-work that filled the space between the studs from sill to plate, were of neces- 
sity removed to admit of the necessary repairs, but great care was exercised in 
securing in place all that could be spared, and quite a large part of this ancient 
work remains in place todav, adding verv materially to the safety of the house in 
case of fire. 

The chimney was rebuilt at the top and careful repairs were made at the base 



^6 ANXUAL MKETING Rl-l'ORT OF COMMITTEE ON REPAIRS, 

and within the fire-places t(j render the free use of the old fire-places perfectly safe. 
New plastering was laid in the lower rooms, hut in the upper rooms, hy way of 
experiment, a compound of clay, sand and salt hay, after the ancient fashion, was 
used and with very gratifying success. 

In the finish of the lower West room, which seemed best adapted for exhibi- 
tion purposes, the fine old buffet in the corner seemed to justify the use of some 
excellent panelling from the old Rogers manse on High street built in 1728, which 
was removed bv Mr. fohn B, Brown when he remodelled the old house, and was 
kindly given by him to the Society. The venerable painted panel given by the 
late Geeorge Caldwell was inserted. These portions of the woodwork were 
painted, in accordance with the fashion of the last century, but this is the only case 
in w^hich any modern style of finish has been resorted to. 

The doors of the second story are the originals, those in the lower story 
are new, but those leading from the entry into the kitchen and the exhibition room 
were constructed from an old board partition in another part of the house. 

The stairwav was built according to the suggestions made by Mr. Kelley, 
an architect of Boston, who very kindly sent full working drawings. The win- 
dows, as the report of the President explains, were re-located in their original 
place and restored to their first style. 

The rear portion of the house is nearly ready for the occupancy of a resident 
care-taker. By throwing two very small bed rooms into a single compartment and 
constructing a new chimney, two very comfortable living rooms have been secured 
on the lower floor, and some sleeping rooms with slant ceiling in the second story. 
A small apartment is reserved for storage on the second floor, and a similar unfin- 
ished room below affords an excellent location for a large fire-proof vault which 
should be built as soon as funds are available. By the kindness of the Investing 
Committee of the old Ipswich Rural Improvement Society, an unused balance in 
the Savings Bank of 5;56. 14 was contributed to the Society. This was applied to 
the grading and beautifving of the grounds and met not only this expense, but the 
substantial part of the cost of staining the house. 

Due recognition should be made of the hearty interest in the work shown by 
Mr. Edward W. Choate and Mr. Austin L. Lord in their departments, and Mr. 
Jeremiah L. Sullivan who supervised the grading and sodding, and accomplished a 
very tasty and creditable piece of work. The services of Mr. James Thibedeau and 
Mr. Leander Goditt have been of great value. Weeks of hard and painstaking 
toil in scraping and scrubbing the woodwork, with wonderful patience and per- 
sistence, perfect readinsss to do anything, however far removed from the natural 
province of a carpenter and his constant watch and care have brought the Society 



ANNUAL MEETING TREASURER S REPORT. 



4» 



largely in debt to Mr. Thibedeau, and Mr. Goditt has been equally helpful for 
the past three months. 

The profoundest gratitude is due from this Society to non-resident and summer 
resident friends and members, whose generous gifts have made this work possible, 
and whose hearty interest has given constant encouragement. 

T. Frank Waters, "| 
Chas. a. Sayward, I Committee 
John J. Sullivan, I on 

EvERARD H. Martin, | Repairs 
D. Fuller Appleton, J 



REPORT OF TREASURER. 

Joseph I. Horton, Treasurer, in account with the Ipswich Historical Society. 



To balance from '97 
To membership dues 
To contributions 





87 


121 


00 


1407.42 


1529 


29 



By rent to April i, '98 50.00 

By current expenses 67.93 

By house bills 1216.73 

By bank bal., cash and stamps 194.63 



1529.29 



outstanding bills. 



Rent due Agawam Lodge, I. O. of O. F. 
House Bills 



resources. 



Balance in bank, cash, etc. 
Unpaid contributions 
New contribution 



Balance still unprovided for 



Ipswich, December 5, 1898. 



50.00 




527.96 


577-S 




194-63 




50.00 




100,00 






344-'^ 



233-33 



Respectfully submitted, 

Joseph 1. Horton, Treasurer. 



42 



ANNUAL MEETING TREASURER S REPORT. 



HOUSE BILLS. 



Teaming Willard Harris 
Albert Tenney 
Frank Howe 
Sundry 

Labor James Morey 
Edward Davis 
Jeremiah Sullivan 

Painting John W. Goodhue 
J. Howard Lakeman 

Carpenters Edward Choate 
Leander Goditt 
James Thibedeau 
Henry Tonge 
Edward J. Faxon 

Masons Austin Lord 
Parson Bros. 

Lumber Perkins Lumber Co. 
James Graffum 
Tarr & James 
S. F. Canney, on acct 

Payment, James W. Bond 

Interest. Interest on note 

Water. Ipswich Water Department 

Stationery. (See Bill) 

Incidentals. (See Bill) 

Printing. Lewis R. Hovey on acct 



I 


•15 


5^ 


,00 


7' 


•5 




,70 


tz. 


,60 


5' 


.40 



i3-«5 
6.90 

306.32 

1 1 3.00 

250.06 

17.50 

2.56 

171.50 
8.40 



14.00 



45.00 



20.05 



689.44 



179.90 



7' 


,00 




10, 


31 




3' 


,00 




100, 


.00 


I 20.31 
50.00 






. 




42-39 






13.90 


. 




8.55 


. 




8.19 






25.00 



1216.73 



OUTSTANDING BILLS. 



John W. Goodhue, balance of account beyond subscription 
Lewis R. Hovey, ** " *« 



29.48 
.80 



ANNUAL MEETING TREASURER S REPORT. 



43 



OUTSTANDING BILLS. 

Rent due Agawam Lodge, I. O. of O. F. 



20.00 
1 1. 00 



Theodore F. Cogswell, insurance 

Benjamin Fewkes, trees and shrubs 

Austin Lord, labor . . _ ^ 61 ?o 

John Edwin Kimball, windows . , at 00 

S. F. Canney, balance of account . , , ■212 58 

^""''^ ■ 527.96 

ITEMS OF CURRENT EXPENSE. 

Dec. 8, 1897. Printing postals . . , 200 

.50 

Dec. 9, Work on old sign . , 27c 

Dec. 16, Mr. Jackson's Lecture, railroad tickets i 30 

Dec. 18, Wood ... ,'qq 

Jan. 24, 1898. Express . . ^ 

Feb. 2, Postals 

. 50 

Feb. 5, Stamps . . ^ 

" Account Book . . .^ 

Feb. 8, Mrs. Stevens's lecture . . ,^qq 

Feb. 25, Salem Press, printing annual pamphlet 42.35 

Mar. 5, Paper and envelopes . , -,, 

Mar. 6, Stamps, etc. . . ^ • i 00 

Mar. 12, Wood ... .^ 

Mar. 16, Stamps . . _ 

Apr. 27, Shellac . . . ^ 

Apr. 29, Mr. Wade, work on chairs . . 5 qq 
May 10, Stamps ... 

*' Charles Jewett, reseating chairs . ,^qq 

** Hale Wait, janitor's fees . . 2 co 



567-9J 



$50.00 



4+ 



ANNUAL MEETING LIST OF MEMBERS. 



MEMBERS OF THE 

Charles E. Ames 

Daniel Fuller Appleton 

Francis R. Appleton 

Randolph M. Appleton 

Mrs. Helen Appleton 

Charles W. Bamford 

John A. Blake 

John E. Blakemore 

James W. Bond 

Warren Boynton 

Charles W. Brown 

Edward F. Brown 

Mrs. Elizabeth M. Brown 

Henry Brown 
John B. Brown 

Mrs. Lucy T. Brown 

Daniel S. Burnham 

Augustine Caldwell 
Sarah P. Caldwell 
Charles A. Campbell 
Philip E. Clark 
Lucy C. Coburn 
Theodore F. Cogswell 
Harriet D. Condon 
Edward Constant 
Charles S. Cummings 
George G. Dexter 
C. Bertha Dobson 
Harry K. Dodge 
John M. Donovan 
Arthur W. Dow 
George F. Durgin 
George Fall 
Milo H. Gates 
Mrs. Pauline Gates 
Guy W. Gilbert 
Mrs. Florence Gilbert 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

John S. Glover 

John W. Goodhue 

James GrafFum 

Mrs. Eliza H. Green 

Lucy Hamlin 

George H. W. Hayes 

Mrs. Alice L. Heard 

Alice Heard 

John Heard 

Joseph 1. Horton 

Lewis R. Hovev 

Gerald L. Hoyt 

John A. Johnson 

Edward Kavanagh 

Charles M. Kelly 
John C. Kimball 

Aaron Kinsman 

Caroline L. Lakeman 

Curtis E. Lakeman 

G. Frank Langdon 
Austin L. Lord 
George A. Lord 
Lucy Slade Lord 
Thomas H. Lord 
George E. Macarthy 
Mrs. Isabelle G, Macarthv 
James F. Mann 
John P. Marston 
Everard H. Martin 
Mrs. Marietta K. Martin 
John W. Nourse 
Robert B. Parker 
Martin V. B. Perley 
Moritz B. Philipp 
Augustine H. PloufF 
James E. Richardson 
Fred G. Ross 



ANNTJAL MEEnNG.— LIST OF MEMBERS. 



45 



Josepli Ross 

Joseph F. Ross 

William H. Russell 

William S. Russell 

Angus I. Savorv 

Charles A. Savward 

Mrs. Henrietta W Savv\ard 

George A. Schofield 

Edward A. Smith, Salem 

Mrs. Elizabeth K. Spaulding 

Frank H. Stockwell 

John J. Sullivan 



Arthur L. Sweetser 
John E. Tennev 
Mrs. Annie T. Tennev 
Ellen Trask 
Bayard Tuckerman 
Charles S. Tuckerman 
Francis H. Wade 
Luther Wait 
Henry C. Warner 
T. Frank Waters 
Frederic W'illcomb 
Wallace P. Willett 



HONOR.'^RY 

Wm. Sumner Appleton, Boston 
Lamont G. Burnham, Boston 
Eben Caldwell, Elizabeth, N. J. 
Luther Caldwell, Washington, D. C, 
Stephen Caldwell, Avoca, Iowa 
Charles W. Darling, Utica, N. Y. 
Elisha P. Dodge, Newburyport 
Miss Caroline Farley, Cambridge 
Jesse Fewkes, Newton 
Augustus P. Gardner, Hamilton 
Charles L. Goodhue, Springfield 
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Gray 
Arthur W. Hale, Winchester 



MEMBERS. 
Otis Kimball, Boston 
Mrs. Otis Kimball, Boston 
Adeline Manning, Boston 
Mrs. Mary W. Manning, New York 
Henry S. Manning, New York 
Mrs. Mary S. C. Peabody 
Frederic H. Ringe, Los Angeles, Cal. 
Mrs. Henry M. Saltonstall, Boston 
Richard W. Saltonstall, Boston 
Joseph Spiller, Boston 
Harry W Tyler, Boston 
George Willcomb, Boston 
Robert C. Winthrop Jr., Boston 



a(j loans and contributions, 

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS TO THE CfqBlNET SINCE DEC. 189T 



(It is hoped that everv gift or loan is acknowledged, but in the hurry of the 
dedication of the House, articles mav have been brought in of which no record 
was made.) 

Mrs. Mary P. Adams, loan, pair of brass andirons. 
Daniel S. Appleton, dash churn, busk, shoe-buckles, tobacco-box. 
Daniel W. Appleton, ladle owned by his great-grandmother, Lvdia Dane, 
sister of Nathan Dane who lived to be 104 years old. 

Miss Marv W. Appleton, loan, high "case of drawers." 

Mrs. G. Guy Bailey, loan, china, chairs. 

Enoch Bailey, medal and coin. 

William H. Bird, grape shot from Gettysburg. 

John E. Blakemore, business card of Paul Revere, printed from plate probably 
made by him. 

Joseph Brickwood, Confederate bank note. 

Mrs. Albert S. Brown, loan, brass andirons, ancient chair. 

Mrs. Everett K. Brown, straw bed. 

Elizabeth Choate Brown, Providence, Carriers' Annual address Ipswich 
Journal 1828. 

Miss Lucy H. Brown, Boston, Marseilles quilt, chairs. 

Sylvester Brown, map of "Land of Promise." 

Mrs. Thomas Brown, two arm-chairs very ancient, husk-broom, iron kettle, 
candlestick, snuffers, tongs, trivet, lantern. 

Mrs. William G. Brown, chairs, looking glass, china, candlestick. 

Rev. Augustine Caldwell, pamphlet John Rogers, pamphlets for distribution, 
"The old Meeting House, i 747-1 838." 

Miss Joanna Caldwell, almanacs, pamphlets and books, case of sail needles. 

John Caldwell, mahogany cradle. 

Col. Lutlier Caldwell, life of Paul Jones, picture of Gov. Bradstreet. 

Mr. Casey, Salem, picture of Lafayette. 

Daniel G. Chapman, box used by Corporal Foster while horse shoeing. 

Mrs. E. C. Cowles, tinder-box, sconce from old chapel of First Church, 
Life of Miss Zilpah P. Grant, (Mrs. Bannister). 

Rev. Temple Cutler, Gloucester, Book owned by Rev. Manasseh Cutler. 

Edward Damon, pictures, "The Constitution," "Queen Elizabeth." 

Henry Dunnels, Indenture, John to Zaccheus Newmarsh, 1696. 



LOANS AND CONTRIRUTIONS. 



47 



Jason Ellsworth, glass ball and keg buoy used by fishermen. 

Essex Institute, Salem, "The First Half-Century of the Essex Institute." 

Mrs. Mary S. Farley, table, feather bed, bellows, wash stand. 

Jesse Fewkes, Newton, portions of lace machinery and names of lace makers 
in Ipswich Lace Factory. 

Mrs. John Gilbert, long handled frv pan. 

Mrs. George H. Green, table with turned legs. 

George Harris, rocking chair. 

Mrs. E. J. llsley, copy of The Columbian Sentinel, relics from Harper's 
Ferry. 

Misses Jewett, loan, seraphine and native musical instrument, large tin kitchen 
with two spits, flax, rubbers, shoes, Indian moccasins, great brass kettle, trammels, 
chairs, hats and bonnets. 

Mrs. Charlotte M. Jones, loan, wooden balances, lantern. 

Edward Kavanagh, Gideon Foster's chocolate tin used in his factory at Pea- 
body ; pamphlet, "Dea. Giles's distillery." 

Edward P. Kimball, Toledo, Ohio, epaulet worn bv Col. Chas. Kimball^ 
Regimental order 1821, Old Deeds, Promissorv note for rations in Continental 
Army, fac-similes old pubhcations. 

Miss Fannie V. R. Kimball, Boston Globe, Sept. 27, 1881, with Garfield 
tributes. 

Fred A. Kimball, chest, mixing-tray for bread. 

Frederic Lamson, Salem, oil paintings, photographs, tools used by Daniel' 
Ross, Japanese bowl. 

Mrs. Martha Lamson, "Dying Speech and Confession of William Linsey,* 
1770." 

Mrs. Eliz. C. Lavalette, Sermons bv Benj. Wadsworth. 

Wm. H. Lavalette, old tailor's shears, seed-planter owned by Pike Noyes, 
descendant of Rev. Nicholas Noyes, more than 60 years old. 

Francis H. Lee, Salem, souvenir Victoria Jubilee, English penny. 

Miss Lucy Slade Lord, loan, wine-case owned by her father, Joseph Lord, 
supercargo many voyages to China; pamphlet, "The Simple Cobler of Aga- 
wam," sermons. Continental money. ' 

James F. Mann, lamps, loan china, table, candlesticks, pewter. 

John W. Mansfield, drawing from Libbv Prison. Document taken by him 
from desk of Alexander H. Stephens in the Capitol at Richmond. * 

Mrs. Joseph Marshall, ancient fringe for bed-canopy. 

Mrs. Everard H. Martin, loan, miniature trunk, lace veil. 



^8 LOANS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Mrs. Eliz. Merry, Nottingham cup and saucer. 

George von L. Mever, pair Hessian andirons. 

George V. Millett, fire-pan. 

Mrs. Ehen B. Moulton, loan, ancient wooden-tunnel, brass ladle and skim- 
mer, ancient spring balance. 

New York State Library, Second Annual Report of State Historian. 

Alfred Norman, political banner. 
• Miss Hannah Peatfield, piece of the first web of Bobbin-net lace, made in 
Ipswich in 1828 by James Peatfield, book "The Christian in armor." 

I. E. B. Perkins, wooden shovel. 

A. H. Plouft", sheet of Continental money. 

Mrs. Edward PloufF, books, snuffers, herbs and dried apples, 

Capt. Wm. Randall, piece of hand-hose brought up by divers from the wreck 
of the Maine, Havana harbor. 

Mrs. Silvanus Reed, New York, Photograph Gen. James Reed. 
James E. Richardson, old pestle and mortar, candle-mould, foot-stove, sam- 
pler, Esther Willson Silhouettes and SnufF Box. 

Dr. William H. Russell, sword. 

Mrs. Charles Smith, iron candlestick. 

Edward A. Smith, Salem, knapsack. 

Mrs. Jeremiah Smith, china, clock, letter box, lamps. 

Augustine H. Spiller, brick from ancient house on site of George E. Farley's 
residence. 

George Spiller, one dollar Merchants & Manufacturers Bank, Pittsburgh, old 
brick. 

Frank Stackpole, foot stove, old jugs and bottles. 

Daniel W, Stone, pamphlet, sermon by Jonathan Edwards, loan, candle- 
sticks. 

Robert Stone, loan, tongs and shovel with andirons previously loaned. 

Dr. Frank Stockwell, loan, ancient sofa. 

Mrs. J. J. Sullivan, loan, china, pewter, chairs, Indian implements. 

Jeremiah A. Sullivan, 8 pound cannon ball, dug up on his grounds. 

James Thibedeau, swingling knife for flax, candlestick used on fishing schoon- 
ers and fishing gear. 

Mrs. Charles S. Tuckerman, loan, piano, china, fire-bucket, Saltonstall old 
lamp and lanterns. 

Miss Sarah Wade, braided mat. 



LOANS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. 



49 



Mrs. Eliza Walton, Indian basket owned hv lier grandfather, \^'atts Hvmns 
1789, engraving, George Whitefield. 

Mrs. Caroline L. Warner, brass lamp, ancient embroidered linen. 

George F. Waters, button, loan, Indian implements. 

Mrs. Edward B. Wildes, homespun linen for bed. 

Frederic Willcomb, Sermon at ordination of David T. Kimball, Centennial 
discourse David T. Kimball, calendars. 

Wallace P. Willett, roll of drill club 1861. 

Mrs. Henry Wilson, braided mat. 

Mrs. Caroline Woods, framed photograph of Rev. Dr. Fitz. 

Western Reserve Historical Society, Annals of the Early Settlers Association 
of Cayahoga Co., Ohio. 



Erratum: — On pages 3 and 17, the date of the annual meeting should be 
December 5, 



